Import duty on Dates (HS 08041020) from the UAE to India

HS 08041020 · UAE to India · Agriculture

Data last updated: 13 June 2026 · MFN & IGST from ICEGATE; CEPA rate per agreement — verify before filing

Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment

CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹2,31,000 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator.

What drives the rate

Importing dates (HS 08041020) from the UAE to India attracts a standard MFN basic customs duty of 20%. Under the India–UAE CEPA the preferential basic customs duty is 0%. On a sample assessable value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,81,000 at the MFN rate to ₹50,000 with CEPA — a saving of ₹2,31,000 per shipment. Dates are a flagship UAE export and one of the few agricultural lines given real CEPA relief: the 20% MFN duty falls to zero and IGST is a low 5%. The origin rule is Wholly Obtained — the dates must be grown and harvested in the UAE — so for genuine UAE produce origin is rarely in doubt. MFN and IGST are from ICEGATE; the CEPA preferential rate follows the agreement — verify before filing. Social Welfare Surcharge adds 10% on the basic duty and 5% IGST applies on top — though IGST is recoverable as input tax credit, so the lasting benefit is the basic-duty saving. Always confirm the live rate for HS 08041020 on ICEGATE or CBIC before filing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty on dates from the UAE to India?

The standard MFN basic customs duty is 20%; under India–UAE CEPA the preferential rate is 0%. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 5% IGST applies on the CIF + BCD + SWS base.

How much can CEPA save on dates?

On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,81,000 (MFN) to ₹50,000 (CEPA) — about ₹2,31,000 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.

What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on dates?

A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 20% MFN rate.