India opens ports, airports to foreign-bound cargo impacted by Strait of Hormuz disruptions

New Delhi: India has opened its seaports and international airports to foreign-bound cargo diverted due to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, allowing temporary unloading, storage and transshipment as shipping uncertainties persist in West Asia.

The window will be available until October 31, 2026, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said in a circular sent to field formations dated August 22.

The cargo, however, cannot be cleared for home consumption or diverted into the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) and must remain under Customs control throughout its stay in India.


The temporary facilities can be used only for onward international transshipment or re-export, allowing repackage on case- to-case basis.

The measure covers full container load and less than container load cargo from all Indian seaports and international airports, including shipments involving multiple Customs stations. It also permits the temporary handling of liquid bulk, break bulk and solid or dry bulk cargo destined for foreign ports.

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The decision follows representations from trade and industry highlighting continuing disruption of maritime routes and uncertainty in the Gulf region. The Board said the facilitation was necessary to support uninterrupted international trade amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Any discrepancy, damage or irregularity must be reported immediately to Customs, the board said.

Customs officials will supervise discharge, ullage surveys and quantity determination. Cargo must be stored with an approved custodian, with proper inventory records maintained. Authorities can also require bonds or undertakings and testing of cargo wherever necessary, it said.

For cargo moving through multiple Customs stations, prior consent will be required between the nodal officers of the originating, transit and destination stations. The receiving station must confirm availability of secure storage, infrastructure and logistics support before the trans-shipment is approved, the circular said.

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Custodians at the originating, transit and destination stations will remain responsible for the safe custody, secure storage, handling and accounting of the cargo while it remains under their charge, the board clarified.

Highlights

• Customs to allow temporary unloading, storage and transshipment of cargoes
• permission given by jurisdictional Principal Commissioner or comissioner customs
• Permission strictly for onward international transshipment or re-export.
• No entry into domestic market
• consignments to remain under Customs control during India stay
• Window open till Oct 31, 2026