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Handicrafts

Export musical instruments

Handmade sitars, tablas, flutes, harmoniums and drums from Miraj, Kolkata, Varanasi and Pilibhit.

Free to exportHS 9201
HS code
9201
Chapter 92 musical instruments: pianos (9201), string instruments such as sitar, violin and veena (9202), wind instruments such as flutes and shehnai (9205), percussion such as tabla, drums and dholak (9206), electric instruments (9207) and parts and strings (9209).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Instruments that use wildlife parts (ivory, some skins, bone or shell) or restricted timber are a separate matter — check wildlife and CITES rules before export.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 51.2 mn
to 55 countries

What is exported

India exports handmade classical and folk instruments (sitar, tanpura, veena, tabla, harmonium, bansuri, shehnai, dholak), percussion and practice drums, and some band instruments. Buyers are music shops, world-music importers, yoga and wellness retailers and online sellers. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 53 million of Chapter 92 instruments; the UAE, Germany, the USA, China and Malaysia led.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • String instrumentsSitar, tanpura, sarod, veena, violin and santoor (HS 9202).
  • PercussionTabla, dholak, mridangam, djembe-style drums and frame drums (HS 9206).
  • Wind instrumentsBansuri, shehnai and brass band instruments (HS 9205).
  • Harmoniums and partsHand harmoniums (classified with keyboard or reed instruments — confirm the code) and strings and parts (HS 9209).

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraMiraj (Sangli) — sitar and tanpura makers
  • West BengalKolkata — sitars, sarods, harmoniums and tablas
  • Uttar PradeshVaranasi (tabla, shehnai), Pilibhit (bansuri), Meerut (brass band instruments)
  • Tamil Nadu and Andhra PradeshThanjavur (veena, mridangam) and Bobbili (veena)
  • DelhiDaryaganj and other workshops — harmoniums and percussion

Export packing

  • Hard or padded cases for each instrument, then a five-ply carton with foam on all sides.
  • Loosen strings for sea transit and add humidity packs; mark cartons "Fragile" and "This way up".
  • Wooden crates for consolidated orders must be ISPM 15 treated.

Who buys abroad

  • Music shops and world-music importers
  • Yoga, meditation and sound-therapy retailers
  • Music schools and diaspora cultural groups
  • Online marketplaces

The quality buyers ask for

Wood
Seasoned wood (tun, sheesham, jackfruit, bamboo for flutes) with species declared
Tuning and pitch
Tuned to A=440 Hz or the buyer's pitch; flutes and harmoniums by key (for example C, D, G)
Heads and strings
Leather heads tensioned evenly; steel or bronze strings of stated gauge
Finish
Smooth, crack-free finish with non-toxic lacquer

Certificates

  • CITES permit (where applicable)Often askedNeeded only for instruments containing CITES-listed species not covered by an exemption; check before export.
  • Lacey Act declaration (USA)RequiredFor wooden instruments; filed by the US importer with your species data.
  • ISPM 15RequiredFor wooden crates and packing.
  • GI authorised userOften askedTo sell under names such as Miraj Sitar or Banaras Tabla.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Mostly air or courier in cartons for small orders; consolidated LCL sea freight for larger orders of percussion and harmoniums.

How it travels

Air from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Chennai; sea from Nhava Sheva, Kolkata or Chennai.

Storage

Store at stable temperature and humidity; loosen strings for long storage.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Maker's name, model, key or tuning, and "Made in India" on the instrument or case.
  • Carton marks: "Fragile", "This way up", item code, quantity and weight.
  • Care and tuning instructions in English (and the buyer's language if retail).
Where to get it tested

Instruments are judged by playing rather than lab tests. For wood species identification, use the Forest Research Institute (Dehradun) or a NABL-accredited wood lab; EPCH can advise members on export rules.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • EPCHHandmade musical instruments fall under miscellaneous handicrafts with EPCH; take your RCMC there.epch.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Timber and wildlife: instruments of rosewood, ebony or with animal parts — check CITES status; rosewood (Dalbergia) instruments have specific CITES rules, and products with ivory or protected species cannot be exported.
  • USA: Lacey Act declaration for wooden instruments, naming the species.
  • Instruments with leather heads (tabla, dholak) may face animal-product checks in some countries — ask the importer.
  • Tuning and playability checked before packing; buyers often ask for a short video of each instrument being played.
How to start small

Work with a family workshop in Miraj, Kolkata or Varanasi, start with a few popular items (tabla sets, harmoniums, bansuri) and sell through world-music shops abroad or online marketplaces. Ship small cartons by air or courier first, with hard cases and humidity packs.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Cracks and warping from humidity changes in transit — season the wood and pack with humidity control.
  • Using bone, ivory-like or shell inlay without checking wildlife law — goods are seized and the exporter is prosecuted.
  • Weak packing for long-necked instruments such as sitar and tanpura — breakage claims wipe out the margin.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 92 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. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  5. CITES — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (checklist and appendices)
  6. USDA APHIS — Lacey Act plant declaration
  7. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications

Trade data

Indian musical instruments exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 51.2 mn
+18% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +17%
US$ 43.8 mn → US$ 51.2 mn
Buyer countries
55
Average export price
US$ 21.63
per kg · 2,369 tonnes shipped · US$ 18.54 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 8.5 mnUnited States of America: US$ 6.8 mnGermany: US$ 6.2 mnChina: US$ 5.7 mnMalaysia: US$ 3.1 mnFrance: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.1 mnSingapore: US$ 2.1 mnJapan: US$ 1.9 mnKenya: US$ 1.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 1.6 mnBrazil: US$ 1.3 mnMexico: US$ 1.1 mnNepal: US$ 1 mnAustralia: US$ 640kCanada: US$ 580kSouth Korea: US$ 380kNetherlands: US$ 330kBangladesh: US$ 310kMauritius: US$ 270kItaly: US$ 200kIsrael: US$ 200kTanzania: US$ 170kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 8.5 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of America: US$ 6.8 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 6.2 mnGermanyChina: US$ 5.7 mnChinaMalaysia: US$ 3.1 mnMalaysiaFrance: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 2.1 mnSingapore: US$ 2.1 mnJapan: US$ 1.9 mnKenya: US$ 1.7 mnKenyaIndonesia: US$ 1.6 mnBrazil: US$ 1.3 mnMexico: US$ 1.1 mnNepal: US$ 1 mnAustralia: US$ 640kCanada: US$ 580kSouth Korea: US$ 380kNetherlands: US$ 330kBangladesh: US$ 310kMauritius: US$ 270kItaly: US$ 200kIsrael: US$ 200kTanzania: US$ 170kIndia
Where Indian musical instruments goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 22.4 mn222020-212021-22: US$ 35.5 mn362021-222022-23: US$ 43.3 mn432022-232023-24: US$ 41.5 mn412023-242024-25: US$ 43.8 mn442024-252025-26: US$ 51.2 mn512025-26
India’s musical instruments exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2020-21 — a 57% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 13.75 per kg13.752021-22: US$ 14.29 per kg2022-23: US$ 16.41 per kg2024-25: US$ 18.54 per kg2025-26: US$ 21.63 per kg21.632020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian musical instruments · 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$ 22.4 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 35.5 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 43.3 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 41.5 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 43.8 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 51.2 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 61.5 mn (US$ 49.7 mn – US$ 76.2 mn)622026-272027-28: US$ 70.4 mn (US$ 55.4 mn – US$ 89.4 mn)702027-28
India’s musical instruments exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 70.4 mn

Likely range US$ 55.4 mn to US$ 89.4 mn.

Trend
+14.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.76
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 Arab EmiratesUS$ 8.5 mn+44.5%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 6.8 mn-8.3%
3GermanyUS$ 6.2 mn+9.6%
4ChinaUS$ 5.7 mn-2.8%
5MalaysiaUS$ 3.1 mn+40.4%
6FranceUS$ 2.1 mn0%
7United KingdomUS$ 2.1 mn+61.5%
8SingaporeUS$ 2.1 mn+98.1%
9JapanUS$ 1.9 mn+14.5%
10KenyaUS$ 1.7 mn+80.6%
11IndonesiaUS$ 1.6 mn+8.2%
12BrazilUS$ 1.3 mn+15.3%

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. SingaporeUS$ 1 mn → US$ 2.1 mn+98.1%
  2. KenyaUS$ 930k → US$ 1.7 mn+80.6%
  3. United KingdomUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 2.1 mn+61.5%
  4. PanamaUS$ 730k → US$ 1.1 mn+53.4%
  5. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 5.9 mn → US$ 8.5 mn+44.5%
  6. MalaysiaUS$ 2.2 mn → US$ 3.1 mn+40.4%
  7. MexicoUS$ 890k → US$ 1.1 mn+28.1%
  8. BrazilUS$ 1.1 mn → US$ 1.3 mn+15.3%

Low demand

No sizeable country falls in this list this year.

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
Keyboard instruments,other than accordions9207 10 00 · Musical instruments, keyboard,, the sound of which is produced or must be amplified electricallyUS$ 26.2 mn+36.1%276k piecesUS$ 94.92 per piecewas US$ 89.59
Other string musical instruments9202 90 00 · Musical instruments, string, played other than with a bowUS$ 9.2 mn+8%224k piecesUS$ 41.30 per piecewas US$ 39.38
Parts and accessories for the musical instruments of headng no.92029209 92 00 · Musical instruments, parts and accessories for string musical instruments other than keyboard instrumentsUS$ 6.7 mn-8.7%863 tonnesUS$ 7.81 per kgwas US$ 8.41
Percussion musical instrmnt(for exmpl, drumsxylophones,cymbals,castanets, maraccas)9206 00 00 · Musical instruments, percussionUS$ 2.4 mn+3.1%617k piecesUS$ 3.82 per piecewas US$ 6.51
Other prtsandaccssors of musical instruments9209 99 00 · Musical instruments, parts and accessories for musical instruments in heading no. 9209, metronomes, tuning…US$ 2.2 mn-3.1%128 tonnesUS$ 17.33 per kgwas US$ 21.51
Other musical instruments of hdg 92079207 90 00 · Musical instruments,, the sound of which is produced or must be amplified electricallyUS$ 1.6 mn-3%82k piecesUS$ 19.54 per piecewas US$ 28.48
All other wind musical instruments9205 90 90 · Musical instruments, wind, other than brass,, other than fairground organs and mechanical street organsUS$ 1.6 mn+18.2%29k piecesUS$ 53.76 per piecewas US$ 3.71
Musical instrument strings9209 30 00 · Musical instrument stringsUS$ 410k+412.5%3.9 tonnesUS$ 103.88 per kgwas US$ 13.33
Musical instruments, harpsichords and other keyboard stringed instruments in heading no. 9201 — other pianos9201 90 00US$ 260k-36.6%19k piecesUS$ 13.64 per piecewas US$ 40.50
Strng musical instruments played with a bow9202 10 00 · Musical instruments, string, played with a bowUS$ 210k-19.2%2k piecesUS$ 90.75 per piecewas US$ 96.69
Parts and accessories for the musical instruments of heading no.92079209 94 00 · Musical instruments, parts and accessories for the musical instruments the sound of which is produced or…US$ 180k+63.6%5.8 tonnesUS$ 30.94 per kgwas US$ 29.19
Musical instruments, brass-wind, other than fairground organs and mechanical street organs — brass-wind instruments9205 10 00US$ 130k0%6k piecesUS$ 20.67 per piecewas US$ 13.12
Musical instruments, wind, other than brass,, other than fairground organs and mechanical street organs — flutes9205 90 10US$ 60k-33.3%107k piecesUS$ 0.56 per piecewas US$ 0.61
Musical instruments, pianos, upright, including automatic pianos — upright pianos9201 10 00US$ 50k—2k piecesUS$ 29.26 per piece

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$ 7.37 bn
2023
India among exporters
#21
of 151 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.6%
US$ 42.6 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 7.64 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 1.96 bn 25.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.1 bn 14.2%
  3. 3USAUS$ 910 mn 11.8%
  4. 4IndonesiaUS$ 649 mn 8.4%
  5. 5JapanUS$ 622 mn 8.1%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 313 mn 4.1%
  7. 7FranceUS$ 302 mn 3.9%
  8. 8MalaysiaUS$ 236 mn 3.1%
  9. 9Other Asia, nesUS$ 170 mn 2.2%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 169 mn 2.2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.58 bn 21.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 800 mn 10.9%
  3. 3JapanUS$ 499 mn 6.8%
  4. 4ChinaUS$ 498 mn 6.8%
  5. 5United KingdomUS$ 362 mn 4.9%
  6. 6FranceUS$ 339 mn 4.6%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 315 mn 4.3%
  8. 8CanadaUS$ 235 mn 3.2%
  9. 9Rep. of KoreaUS$ 208 mn 2.8%
  10. 10AustraliaUS$ 177 mn 2.4%

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$ 1.61 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 1.6 bn
GermanyUS$ 808 mnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 798 mn
JapanUS$ 484 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 483 mn
United KingdomUS$ 362 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 360 mn
ChinaUS$ 354 mnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 350 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 327 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 326 mn
FranceUS$ 316 mnIndia 1.1% · gap US$ 313 mn
CanadaUS$ 222 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 222 mn
South KoreaUS$ 202 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 202 mn
AustraliaUS$ 177 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 177 mn

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 musical instruments

China dominates the world trade in musical instruments, followed by Japan, Germany, the USA and Indonesia for factory-made pianos, guitars and electronic instruments. India's strength is handmade classical and folk instruments, which have a loyal market among students of Indian music, world-music players and the wellness and sound-therapy sector. Demand is steady rather than large and grows with yoga, kirtan and fusion music abroad. Quality varies widely, so makers who offer consistent tuning, good finish and reliable packing stand out. Openings are in student-grade instruments, percussion and drums for world-music shops, and online sales direct to players.

  1. 01Select makers

    Work with workshops that can deliver consistent quality in your chosen range.

  2. 02Check materials

    Confirm wood species and avoid wildlife parts; keep purchase records.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC with EPCH.

  4. 04Test and video

    Tune and play-test each instrument; record a short video for the buyer.

  5. 05Pack

    Case, foam and five-ply carton; loosen strings; add humidity packs.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP (0.5%) and drawback (1.2%).

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting musical instruments

Is a CITES permit needed for a rosewood sitar?
Rosewood (Dalbergia) instruments have special treatment under CITES, and finished musical instruments are generally exempt. Check the current CITES annotation and Indian wildlife rules before shipping.
Which council covers musical instruments?
EPCH, under miscellaneous handicrafts.
How do I stop instruments cracking abroad?
Use well-seasoned wood, pack with humidity control, and advise buyers to acclimatise instruments before opening cases.
Which GI tags help?
Miraj Sitar, Miraj Tanpura, Thanjavur Veenai, Bobbili Veena, Banaras Tabla, Banaras Shehnai and Pilibhit Bansuri are registered GIs.
Can I sell through online marketplaces abroad?
Yes. Many makers ship by courier under e-commerce export rules; keep invoices, IEC and packing strong enough for parcel networks.
Sources (7)
  1. EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts) — official site
  2. CITES — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (checklist and appendices)
  3. USDA APHIS — Lacey Act plant declaration
  4. IPPC — ISPM 15, Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade
  5. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications
  6. 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
  7. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback

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