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Engineering goods

Export wires and cables

Power, building, solar and control cables and wiring harnesses; the USA and the UAE lead.

Free to exportHS 8544
HS code
8544
Insulated wire, cable and other insulated electric conductors, winding wire, wiring harnesses and optical fibre cables (HS 8544).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Confirm the exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before shipping.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 2.87 bn
to 167 countries

What is exported

Cable makers in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Uttarakhand and South India export power and building cables, solar and control cables, winding wire and vehicle wiring harnesses. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 2.9 billion under HS 8544; the USA led, followed by the UAE, the UK, Germany and Australia (Commerce Department data).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Power cables (LV, MV, HV)XLPE and PVC armoured cables for utilities, industry and solar farms.
  • Building wiresPVC-insulated copper wires for house wiring.
  • Winding wiresEnamelled copper and aluminium wires for motors and transformers (8544 11).
  • Control, instrumentation and solar cablesSpecialised cables for plants, oil and gas, and PV systems.
  • Wiring harnesses and optical fibre cablesVehicle wiring sets (8544 30) and telecom fibre cables (8544 70).

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratHalol, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Silvassa (Dadra and Nagar Haveli)
  • MaharashtraMumbai, Pune and Aurangabad
  • Delhi NCR and UttarakhandDelhi, Noida and Haridwar
  • Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and TelanganaChennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad

Export packing

  • Cables are wound on wooden or steel drums, with the ends sealed by end caps against water; drum details stencilled on the flange.
  • Building wires go in coils (often 90 m or 100 m) in shrink-wrap and cartons.
  • Wooden drums must be ISPM 15 treated; heavy drums go in flat racks or open-top containers.

Who buys abroad

  • Utilities and EPC contractors
  • Electrical wholesalers and distributors
  • Oil, gas and infrastructure projects
  • Vehicle makers (wiring harnesses)

The quality buyers ask for

Power cables
IEC 60502 (1–30 kV), IEC 60840 / 62067 for HV; BS 6724 / BS 5467 armoured cables for the UK and Gulf
Conductors
Copper or aluminium, class 1/2/5 to IEC 60228, resistance per km
Fire performance
EU CPR reaction-to-fire class (EN 50575) for cables in buildings; low-smoke zero-halogen (LSZH) for public spaces
Solar cables
EN 50618 / IEC 62930 for PV systems
Restricted substances
EU RoHS and REACH limits on lead and other substances in PVC compounds

Certificates

  • CE marking with CPR declaration of performanceOften askedCables permanently installed in EU buildings need a CPR class and CE marking.
  • Third-party approvals (BASEC, HAR, UL, TÜV)Often askedBuyers and utilities often require a recognised third-party approval for each cable type.
  • Type-test reportsRequiredUtility tenders require type tests to IEC or BS standards.
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality management system; expected by most industrial buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Drums in 20-ft or 40-ft containers (by weight and drum size); heavy drums in flat racks or open-top containers.

How it travels

Sea from Mundra, Hazira, Nhava Sheva and Chennai; road to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Store drums upright on firm ground, ends sealed, away from sunlight for long periods.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Sheath printing at regular intervals: maker, cable type, size, voltage, standard, year and metre marking.
  • Drum label: drum number, length, gross and net weight, direction of rolling.
  • EU: CE mark and CPR class on the label or drum.
Where to get it tested

CPRI (Bengaluru and regional labs) and ERDA (Vadodara) test cables to IEC and Indian standards. Third-party approval bodies such as BASEC, UL and TÜV work through their own or accepted labs. Search the NABL directory for 'cable' for others.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council)RCMC — electrical products are under EEPC; some electronic and fibre cables may fall under ESC — check DGFT Appendix 2T.eepcindia.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU: cables fixed in buildings need a CPR fire class (EN 50575) and CE marking; RoHS and REACH limits apply to compounds.
  • Utilities and projects require type tests to IEC or BS standards and often third-party approvals (BASEC, UL, TÜV).
  • Routine tests and length checks on every drum.
How to start small

Start with building wires or solar cables to BS or IEC standards for distributors and contractors in the Gulf and Africa. Join EEPC, get type tests at CPRI or ERDA and quote with a copper price base.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Fixed-price quotes hit by copper price swings.
  • Conductor resistance above the standard — whole drums rejected.
  • Selling building cables into the EU without CPR classification.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 8544 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. European Commission — Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
  5. European Commission — RoHS Directive (restriction of hazardous substances in electrical equipment)
  6. EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council) — official site

Trade data

Indian wires and cables exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 2.87 bn
+23.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +22.7%
US$ 2.34 bn → US$ 2.87 bn
Buyer countries
167
Average export price
US$ 0.69
per kg · 4.16 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.70 the year before
United States of America: US$ 669 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 376 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 178 mnGermany: US$ 106 mnAustralia: US$ 95.9 mnFrance: US$ 72.6 mnIsrael: US$ 68.4 mnRussia: US$ 59.2 mnNigeria: US$ 57.8 mnItaly: US$ 57.5 mnJapan: US$ 52 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 45.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 45.1 mnChile: US$ 43.3 mnHong Kong: US$ 40.9 mnChina: US$ 40.5 mnSpain: US$ 40.1 mnMexico: US$ 34.5 mnNepal: US$ 32.6 mnThailand: US$ 32.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 31.1 mnIraq: US$ 27.1 mnOman: US$ 26.6 mnTanzania: US$ 26.6 mnSingapore: US$ 26.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 669 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 376 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom: US$ 178 mnUnited KingdomGermany: US$ 106 mnAustralia: US$ 95.9 mnAustraliaFrance: US$ 72.6 mnIsrael: US$ 68.4 mnIsraelRussia: US$ 59.2 mnRussiaNigeria: US$ 57.8 mnItaly: US$ 57.5 mnJapan: US$ 52 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 45.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 45.1 mnChile: US$ 43.3 mnHong Kong: US$ 40.9 mnChina: US$ 40.5 mnSpain: US$ 40.1 mnMexico: US$ 34.5 mnNepal: US$ 32.6 mnThailand: US$ 32.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 31.1 mnIraq: US$ 27.1 mnOman: US$ 26.6 mnTanzania: US$ 26.6 mnSingapore: US$ 26.2 mnIndia
Where Indian wires and cables goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 982 mn9822020-212021-22: US$ 1.39 bn1.4k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.81 bn1.8k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.02 bn2.0k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.34 bn2.3k2024-252025-26: US$ 2.87 bn2.9k2025-26
India’s wires and cables exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2021-22 — a 219% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 2.09 per kg2.092021-22: US$ 0.66 per kg0.662022-23: US$ 0.82 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.70 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.69 per kg0.692020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian wires and cables · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 982 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.39 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.81 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 2.02 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.34 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 2.87 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 3.63 bn (US$ 3.24 bn – US$ 4.07 bn)3.6k2026-272027-28: US$ 4.44 bn (US$ 3.91 bn – US$ 5.03 bn)4.4k2027-28
India’s wires and cables exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 4.44 bn

Likely range US$ 3.91 bn to US$ 5.03 bn.

Trend
+22.2% a year
Fit (R²)
0.96
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 669 mn+28.6%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 376 mn+54.6%
3United KingdomUS$ 178 mn+23%
4GermanyUS$ 106 mn+53.5%
5AustraliaUS$ 95.9 mn+0.9%
6FranceUS$ 72.6 mn+14.1%
7IsraelUS$ 68.4 mn+36.6%
8RussiaUS$ 59.2 mn+325.1%
9NigeriaUS$ 57.8 mn+21.5%
10ItalyUS$ 57.5 mn+60.1%
11JapanUS$ 52 mn+25%
12Saudi ArabiaUS$ 45.8 mn-49.8%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. RussiaUS$ 13.9 mn → US$ 59.2 mn+325.1%
  2. ChileUS$ 15.5 mn → US$ 43.3 mn+179.2%
  3. MexicoUS$ 14.2 mn → US$ 34.5 mn+142.5%
  4. MalaysiaUS$ 14.3 mn → US$ 31.1 mn+116.6%
  5. NetherlandsUS$ 23.6 mn → US$ 45.1 mn+91%
  6. Hong KongUS$ 23.1 mn → US$ 40.9 mn+77%
  7. ChinaUS$ 25.3 mn → US$ 40.5 mn+60.3%
  8. ItalyUS$ 35.9 mn → US$ 57.5 mn+60.1%

Low demand

  1. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 91.3 mn → US$ 45.8 mn-49.8%
  2. SpainUS$ 55.4 mn → US$ 40.1 mn-27.6%
  3. NepalUS$ 43.9 mn → US$ 32.6 mn-25.8%
  4. IraqUS$ 34.7 mn → US$ 27.1 mn-21.9%
  5. OmanUS$ 32.2 mn → US$ 26.6 mn-17.3%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Plstic insltd cndctrs for <= 1000v not fitted with connectors8544 49 20 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsUS$ 539 mn+23.9%684 mn metresUS$ 0.79 per metrewas US$ 0.64
Igntn wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles aircraft/ships8544 30 00 · Insulated electric conductors, ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles…US$ 405 mn+15.7%96.3 mn metresUS$ 4.20 per metrewas US$ 3.56
Other elctrc cndctrs for a vltg excdg 1000 v excluding papr plsctic and rubber insulated8544 60 90 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage exceeding 1000 voltsUS$ 271 mn+18.9%81.3 mn metresUS$ 3.33 per metrewas US$ 2.15
Plastic insltd cndctrs for vltge >1000 v8544 60 20 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage exceeding 1000 voltsUS$ 262 mn+2.6%75.4 mn metresUS$ 3.48 per metrewas US$ 3.25
Other elctrc cndctrs not fitted with connctrs used in telecom for <=1000v excluding papr plsctic and rubber insulated8544 49 99 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsUS$ 230 mn+3.5%177 mn metresUS$ 1.31 per metrewas US$ 1.22
Other winding wire of copper excluding enamelled copper8544 11 90 · Insulated electric conductors, winding wire, of copperUS$ 229 mn+37.1%105 mn metresUS$ 2.18 per metrewas US$ 1.89
Other elctrc cndctrs fitted with connctrs used in telecom for <=1000v excluding papr plsctic and rubber insulated8544 42 99 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted with connectorsUS$ 209 mn+23.1%72.6 mn metresUS$ 2.88 per metrewas US$ 3.36
Other winding wires of other metls/substnce excluding copper other thn plastic, rubber insulated and asbestos covered8544 19 90 · Insulated electric conductors, winding wire,US$ 113 mn+65.1%44.6 mn metresUS$ 2.54 per metrewas US$ 1.43
Winding wire of enamelled copper8544 11 10 · Insulated electric conductors, winding wire, of copperUS$ 110 mn+35%2.38 bn metresUS$ 0.05 per metrewas US$ 0.05
Plstic insltd cndctrs for <= 1000v fitted with connectors8544 42 20 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted with connectorsUS$ 94.7 mn+107.8%13.0 mn metresUS$ 7.29 per metrewas US$ 4.33
Rubber insltd cndctrs for vltge >1000 v8544 60 30 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage exceeding 1000 voltsUS$ 90.7 mn+30.7%25.3 mn metresUS$ 3.58 per metrewas US$ 2.87
Optical fibre cables other thn lead alloy sheathd cables8544 70 90 · Insulated electric conductors, optical fibre cablesUS$ 70.6 mn+22.6%178 mn metresUS$ 0.40 per metrewas US$ 0.49
Rubber insltd cndctrs for <= 1000v used for fitted with connectors8544 42 30 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, fitted with connectorsUS$ 49.2 mn+461.9%2.7 mn metresUS$ 18.39 per metrewas US$ 6.81
Plastic insulated conductors used in telecom for voltage <=1000v not fitted with connectors8544 49 92 · Insulated electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsUS$ 35.8 mn+14.8%97.6 mn metresUS$ 0.37 per metrewas US$ 0.32

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 162.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#21
of 160 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.2%
US$ 2.01 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 163.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 28.3 bn 17%
  2. 2MexicoUS$ 17.6 bn 10.6%
  3. 3USAUS$ 12.6 bn 7.6%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 10.4 bn 6.2%
  5. 5Viet NamUS$ 6.86 bn 4.1%
  6. 6ItalyUS$ 4.97 bn 3%
  7. 7MoroccoUS$ 4.97 bn 3%
  8. 8CzechiaUS$ 4.49 bn 2.7%
  9. 9RomaniaUS$ 4.4 bn 2.7%
  10. 10PolandUS$ 4.16 bn 2.5%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 30.3 bn 18.7%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 15.3 bn 9.4%
  3. 3JapanUS$ 8.89 bn 5.5%
  4. 4MexicoUS$ 8.05 bn 5%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 5.62 bn 3.5%
  6. 6United KingdomUS$ 5.27 bn 3.2%
  7. 7ChinaUS$ 5.26 bn 3.2%
  8. 8Rep. of KoreaUS$ 4.35 bn 2.7%
  9. 9CanadaUS$ 4.26 bn 2.6%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 4.22 bn 2.6%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 32 bnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 31.5 bn
GermanyUS$ 15 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 14.9 bn
JapanUS$ 8.5 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 8.45 bn
FranceUS$ 5.32 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 5.25 bn
United KingdomUS$ 5.27 bnIndia 4.4% · gap US$ 5.03 bn
ChinaUS$ 4.99 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 4.96 bn
South KoreaUS$ 4.54 bnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 4.53 bn
SpainUS$ 4.21 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 4.16 bn
CanadaUS$ 4.1 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 4.08 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 3.05 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 3.02 bn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export wires and cables

India has a large wire and cable industry serving its own power, housing and infrastructure build-out, and exports have grown strongly. In 2025-26 the USA, the UAE, the UK, Germany and Australia were the largest buyers (Commerce Department data). China, Turkey, Korea and European makers are the main competitors. Demand comes from grid upgrades, renewable energy, data centres and construction in the Gulf. Buyers need certified products (CPR and HAR in Europe, UL in the USA, BS standards in the UK and Gulf). Openings are in power and solar cables for projects, building wires for the Gulf, and wiring harnesses.

  1. 01Register with EEPC India

    Electrical products are under EEPC; some electronic and fibre cables may fit ESC — check Appendix 2T.

  2. 02Choose standards for the market

    BS for the UK and much of the Gulf, IEC and EN for Europe, UL for North America.

  3. 03Get approvals

    Type tests and third-party approvals for each cable family.

  4. 04Qualify with buyers

    Register with utilities, EPC contractors and distributors.

  5. 05Produce and test

    Routine tests on every drum (conductor resistance, high voltage) with test certificates.

  6. 06Ship and claim benefits

    File the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the correct 8-digit HS code, declare RoDTEP and drawback, and keep the mill or test certificates with the export file.

  7. 07Get paid safely

    Use an LC or documents against payment with new buyers, take ECGC cover for open-account sales, and close the export with an e-BRC once the money arrives.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting wires and cables

Are wiring harnesses in HS 8544?
Yes. Ignition and other wiring sets for vehicles, aircraft and ships are 8544 30.
What incentives apply?
RoDTEP of 0.7–0.8% and drawback of 1.7% of FOB (1% for optical fibre cables).
What is CPR?
The EU Construction Products Regulation. Cables fixed in buildings must be tested for reaction to fire and carry a CPR class and CE mark.
Why do copper prices matter?
Copper is most of the cost. Quote with a copper price base and an adjustment clause, or quote for a short validity.
What goes wrong most often?
Conductor resistance above the standard, wrong sheath printing, and drums damaged or wet on arrival.
Sources (9)
  1. EEPC India (Engineering Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. European Commission — Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
  4. European Commission — Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU)
  5. European Commission — RoHS Directive (restriction of hazardous substances in electrical equipment)
  6. Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Bengaluru — testing of electrical equipment
  7. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  8. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback
  9. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 8544 by country, 2025-26

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