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Export pens, pencils and stationery

Low-cost ball pens, gel pens, pencils and crayons; the USA, UAE and Africa lead.

Free to exportHS 9608
HS code
9608
Ball-point, felt-tip, fountain and gel pens, markers, propelling pencils and pen parts (9608), and wood-cased pencils, crayons, pencil leads, slate pencils and chalks (9609).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 (no condition listed). Confirm the current entry on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you sign a contract.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 271 mn
to 142 countries

What is exported

India makes and exports large volumes of ball pens, gel pens, markers, wood-cased pencils and crayons, both under Indian brands and as private label. Buyers are stationery distributors, school-supply tenders, office-supply chains and retailers. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 218 million under HS 9608 (the USA, UAE, Thailand, Algeria and Brazil led) and about US$ 53 million under HS 9609 (the USA took about half).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Ball-point and gel pensUse-and-throw and refillable pens — the bulk of exports (HS 9608 10 and 9608 60).
  • Markers and highlightersFelt-tip and porous-tip pens (HS 9608 20).
  • Wood-cased pencils and crayonsGraphite and colour pencils, wax crayons (HS 9609).
  • Pen parts and refillsTips, refills and bodies sold to other pen makers.

Where it is grown or made

  • Gujarat and DamanUmbergaon, Valsad and Daman — pen and stationery factories
  • MaharashtraMumbai and Thane — pen brands and exporters
  • Jammu and KashmirPulwama — poplar-wood pencil slats supplied to pencil makers
  • West Bengal and Delhi NCRKolkata, Delhi and Noida — pen and stationery units

Export packing

  • Boxes of 10 or 20, blister cards or display jars, packed into master cartons by gross.
  • Caps sealed and tips protected; cartons kept away from heat to stop ink leakage.

Who buys abroad

  • Stationery distributors and wholesalers
  • School-supply and government tenders
  • Office-supply chains and supermarkets
  • Promotional-product companies (printed pens)

The quality buyers ask for

Writing length
Line length per refill, measured on a writing-test machine (ISO 12757 for ball pens)
Ink
Smooth flow without skipping or blobbing; drying time; light and water resistance where claimed
Pencils
Lead grade (HB, 2B etc.), break strength, sharpenability and straight wood
Child safety
EN 71-3 migration limits (EU) and CPSC lead and phthalate limits (USA) for children's items; vented caps

Certificates

  • ASTM D4236 / LHAMA conformance (USA)RequiredFor art materials such as crayons and colour pencils sold in the USA.
  • EN 71 test reports (EU)Often askedFor stationery that is also a toy or intended for young children.
  • Children's Product Certificate (USA)Often askedFor products designed for children 12 and under.
  • FSCOften askedFor pencils sold with sustainable-wood claims.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Pens are light and compact; a 20-ft container holds a very large number of pieces. Mixed stationery containers are common for distributors.

How it travels

Sea from Nhava Sheva or Mundra (close to the Umbergaon–Daman cluster); air for samples.

Storage

Store away from heat and direct sun so ink does not dry or leak.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Retail packs: brand, ink colour, tip size, quantity, barcode and "Made in India".
  • USA art materials: ASTM D4236 conformance statement and any required warnings.
  • Small-parts or choking warnings where the product or cap is small and aimed at children.
Where to get it tested

CIPET tests plastic bodies and materials. For EN 71, ASTM D4236 or CPSC tests, use NABL-accredited labs (for US children's products, a CPSC-accepted lab). PLEXCONCIL can guide members.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • PLEXCONCILWriting instruments are listed under PLEXCONCIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC there.plexconcil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Products for children (crayons, coloured pencils, school sets) are often treated as toys or children's products: EN 71-3 in the EU and CPSC lead and phthalate rules in the USA.
  • USA: art materials need a toxicological review and labelling under ASTM D4236 (the LHAMA rule).
  • Writing performance to ISO 12757 (ball pens) or the buyer's own test: line length, skipping, leaking and ink drying.
  • EU REACH limits on restricted substances in plastics and inks; Proposition 65 review for California.
How to start small

Begin as a merchant exporter for an established pen or pencil maker, with blister cards or display boxes in the buyer's language. African, Gulf and South Asian distributors buy mixed containers of pens, pencils and erasers; school-season timing matters.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Ink drying out or leaking after months at sea — agree shelf-life tests and pack with caps sealed.
  • Children's sets sold without toy-safety tests — EU and US buyers reject or recall them.
  • US import duties on Indian goods have changed several times since 2025. Check the current rate for your code on the US tariff schedule and with your buyer before you quote.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 9608 and 9609 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. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site
  5. US CPSC — Business guidance for manufacturers and importers
  6. ECHA — Understanding REACH
  7. US International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule (current US duty rates)

Trade data

Indian pens, pencils and stationery exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 271 mn
+8.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -12.5%
US$ 310 mn → US$ 271 mn
Buyer countries
142
Average export price
US$ 0.03
per kg · 7.84 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.04 the year before
United States of America: US$ 61.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 13.5 mnBrazil: US$ 13.1 mnThailand: US$ 9.7 mnKenya: US$ 7.9 mnNepal: US$ 7.8 mnAlgeria: US$ 7.8 mnColombia: US$ 7.3 mnTanzania: US$ 7 mnMexico: US$ 6.9 mnBangladesh: US$ 6.2 mnGermany: US$ 6.1 mnRussia: US$ 5.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 5.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 4.3 mnIraq: US$ 3.9 mnVietnam: US$ 3.9 mnYemen: US$ 3.7 mnJordan: US$ 3.6 mnAustralia: US$ 3.3 mnCanada: US$ 3.2 mnItaly: US$ 3 mnNigeria: US$ 2.6 mnTürkiye: US$ 2.5 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 61.9 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 13.5 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBrazil: US$ 13.1 mnBrazilThailand: US$ 9.7 mnThailandKenya: US$ 7.9 mnKenyaNepal: US$ 7.8 mnNepalAlgeria: US$ 7.8 mnColombia: US$ 7.3 mnTanzania: US$ 7 mnMexico: US$ 6.9 mnBangladesh: US$ 6.2 mnGermany: US$ 6.1 mnRussia: US$ 5.7 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 5.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 4.3 mnIraq: US$ 3.9 mnVietnam: US$ 3.9 mnYemen: US$ 3.7 mnJordan: US$ 3.6 mnAustralia: US$ 3.3 mnCanada: US$ 3.2 mnItaly: US$ 3 mnNigeria: US$ 2.6 mnTürkiye: US$ 2.5 mnIndonesia: US$ 2.4 mnIndia
Where Indian pens, pencils and stationery goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 177 mn1772020-212021-22: US$ 235 mn2352021-222022-23: US$ 294 mn2942022-232023-24: US$ 289 mn2892023-242024-25: US$ 310 mn3102024-252025-26: US$ 271 mn2712025-26
India’s pens, pencils and stationery exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2020-21 — a 135% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.02 per kg0.022021-22: US$ 0.03 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.03 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.04 per kg0.042025-26: US$ 0.03 per kg0.032020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian pens, pencils and stationery · 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$ 177 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 235 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 294 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 289 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 310 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 271 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 347 mn (US$ 281 mn – US$ 427 mn)3472026-272027-28: US$ 377 mn (US$ 299 mn – US$ 475 mn)3772027-28
India’s pens, pencils and stationery exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 377 mn

Likely range US$ 299 mn to US$ 475 mn.

Trend
+8.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.57
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$ 61.9 mn-7%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 13.5 mn-12.2%
3BrazilUS$ 13.1 mn-18.7%
4ThailandUS$ 9.7 mn+12.4%
5KenyaUS$ 7.9 mn-4.2%
6NepalUS$ 7.8 mn-18.9%
7AlgeriaUS$ 7.8 mn-2.6%
8ColombiaUS$ 7.3 mn+34.4%
9TanzaniaUS$ 7 mn+42.9%
10MexicoUS$ 6.9 mn+15.9%
11BangladeshUS$ 6.2 mn+14%
12GermanyUS$ 6.1 mn-19.5%

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. CanadaUS$ 1.1 mn → US$ 3.2 mn+179.6%
  2. YemenUS$ 2.5 mn → US$ 3.7 mn+52%
  3. TanzaniaUS$ 4.9 mn → US$ 7 mn+42.9%
  4. ColombiaUS$ 5.4 mn → US$ 7.3 mn+34.4%
  5. ItalyUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 3 mn+22.3%
  6. JordanUS$ 3 mn → US$ 3.6 mn+19.9%
  7. VietnamUS$ 3.3 mn → US$ 3.9 mn+19%
  8. MexicoUS$ 6 mn → US$ 6.9 mn+15.9%

Low demand

  1. FranceUS$ 33.6 mn → US$ 1.3 mn-96.1%
  2. IndonesiaUS$ 3.5 mn → US$ 2.4 mn-30.8%
  3. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 6.6 mn → US$ 5.1 mn-21.8%
  4. GermanyUS$ 7.6 mn → US$ 6.1 mn-19.5%
  5. NepalUS$ 9.7 mn → US$ 7.8 mn-18.9%
  6. BrazilUS$ 16.1 mn → US$ 13.1 mn-18.7%
  7. IraqUS$ 4.6 mn → US$ 3.9 mn-15%
  8. RussiaUS$ 6.6 mn → US$ 5.7 mn-13.4%

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
Other ball-point pens with liquid ink (for rolling ball pen)9608 10 19 · Pens, ball pointUS$ 126 mn-5.6%3.25 bn piecesUS$ 0.04 per piecewas US$ 0.04
Pencils and crayons,with leads encased in a sheath9609 10 00 · Pencils and crayons, with leads encased in sheathUS$ 50 mn-5%11,739 tonnesUS$ 4.26 per kgwas US$ 4.56
Felt-tppd and other porous-tipd pens and mrkrs9608 20 00 · Pens, felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markersUS$ 24.5 mn-47.9%213 mn piecesUS$ 0.12 per piecewas US$ 0.18
Other ball-point pens without liquid ink (for rolling ball pen)9608 10 99 · Pens, ball pointUS$ 22.4 mn-30.1%407 mn piecesUS$ 0.05 per piecewas US$ 0.06
Other nib points of non-metal9608 91 99 · Pens, nibs and nib pointsUS$ 11.3 mn+29.7%2.41 bn piecesUS$ 0.00 per piecewas US$ 0.00
Parts excluding pen nibs,nib pnts and pencl leads9608 99 90 · Pens and pencils, duplicating stylos, pen-holders, pencil-holders, and similar holders, parts of the…US$ 7.1 mn-11.3%830 tonnesUS$ 8.53 per kgwas US$ 10.41
Other refills for ball point pens9608 60 90 · Pens, ball-point, refills comprising the ball point and ink-reservoirUS$ 6.5 mn+5.7%349 mn piecesUS$ 0.02 per piecewas US$ 0.02
Pens, nibs and nib points — other nib points of metal9608 91 91US$ 6.4 mn-2.1%979 mn piecesUS$ 0.01 per piecewas US$ 0.01
Pens, fountain, stylograph and other pens — other pens of hdg. 96089608 30 99US$ 6.1 mn+22.3%45.6 mn piecesUS$ 0.13 per piecewas US$ 0.14
Refills with liqud ink (for rolng ball-pt)9608 60 10 · Pens, ball-point, refills comprising the ball point and ink-reservoirUS$ 2.4 mn+35.4%69.5 mn piecesUS$ 0.03 per piecewas US$ 0.03
Propelling/sliding pencils9608 40 00 · Pencils, propelling or slidingUS$ 1.9 mn+46.6%40.5 mn piecesUS$ 0.05 per piecewas US$ 0.05
Other pncls;pstls,charcoalsand chalks9609 90 90 · Pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, tailors' chalkUS$ 1.4 mn-20.9%384 tonnesUS$ 3.54 per kgwas US$ 5.25
Pen holders and smlr holders9608 99 10 · Pens and pencils, duplicating stylos, pen-holders, pencil-holders, and similar holders, parts of the…US$ 860k-15.7%38 tonnesUS$ 22.84 per kgwas US$ 25.62
Pastels,drawing charcoals and writing or drawing chalks and tailors chalks9609 90 30 · Pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, tailors' chalkUS$ 830k0%288 tonnesUS$ 2.88 per kgwas US$ 3.01

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$ 7.71 bn
2023
India among exporters
#7
of 154 countries
India’s share of world exports
3.1%
US$ 293 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 9.04 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 3.61 bn 38.7%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 938 mn 10.1%
  3. 3JapanUS$ 853 mn 9.1%
  4. 4USAUS$ 476 mn 5.1%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 466 mn 5%
  6. 6MexicoUS$ 443 mn 4.7%
  7. 7IndiaUS$ 293 mn 3.1%
  8. 8CzechiaUS$ 199 mn 2.1%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 183 mn 2%
  10. 10NetherlandsUS$ 182 mn 2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.25 bn 16.3%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 566 mn 7.3%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 494 mn 6.4%
  4. 4MexicoUS$ 349 mn 4.5%
  5. 5United KingdomUS$ 288 mn 3.7%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 271 mn 3.5%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 234 mn 3%
  8. 8NetherlandsUS$ 199 mn 2.6%
  9. 9CanadaUS$ 194 mn 2.5%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 188 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$ 1.47 bnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 1.4 bn
GermanyUS$ 548 mnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 541 mn
FranceUS$ 499 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 495 mn
United KingdomUS$ 288 mnIndia 2.5% · gap US$ 280 mn
ChinaUS$ 243 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 242 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 221 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 221 mn
ItalyUS$ 220 mnIndia 1.4% · gap US$ 217 mn
SpainUS$ 202 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 201 mn
CanadaUS$ 191 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 188 mn
JapanUS$ 162 mnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 160 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 pens, pencils and stationery

China, Japan, Germany and France lead the world trade in writing instruments, from cheap ball pens to premium brands. India is a significant exporter of low-cost ball pens, gel pens, pencils and crayons, with strong domestic brands and private-label capacity. Demand comes from schools, offices and promotional-product companies and stays steady in developing markets with growing school enrolment. In developed markets, buyers care about safety testing for children's products and about recycled or low-plastic materials. Openings are in Africa, the Gulf and Latin America for value pens and pencils, and in private label for US and European retailers.

  1. 01Choose range and market

    Value pens and pencils for Africa and the Gulf, or private label for big retailers.

  2. 02Test

    Writing-performance and, for children's items, safety tests.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC with PLEXCONCIL.

  4. 04Pack for retail

    Blister cards or boxes in the buyer's language, with barcodes.

  5. 05Time the season

    Ship ahead of the buyer's school-opening season.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill with the exact code; claim RoDTEP and drawback.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting pens, pencils and stationery

Which council covers pens and pencils?
PLEXCONCIL — Appendix 2T lists writing instruments under it.
What drawback do ball pens get?
4.2% of FOB, capped at ₹269 per 1,000 pens (drawback item 960801).
Are crayons treated as toys?
Often, when marketed to young children. Buyers then expect EN 71 tests in the EU and CPSC compliance in the USA.
Where are pencil slats made?
Much of India's pencil-slat wood comes from poplar in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
Can I export mixed stationery in one container?
Yes. List each item with its own HS code on the invoice and shipping bill so each line gets the right incentive.
Sources (7)
  1. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. US CPSC — Business guidance for manufacturers and importers
  3. ECHA — Understanding REACH
  4. CIPET — Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (testing services)
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  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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