India Restricts Jute Imports from Bangladesh to Nhava Sheva Port Only, Banning All Land Route Entries.
International
Effective 27–29 June 2025, India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has banned the import of certain jute and allied products from Bangladesh through land routes, mandating that such imports must enter exclusively via Nhava Sheva seaport. This strategic move aims to bolster regulatory oversight and safeguard the domestic jute industry.
- The DGFT notification covers a range of exports from Bangladesh—including jute products, flax tow and waste, raw or retted jute, jute yarns (single and multifold), and woven/unbleached fabrics. These items are now barred at all India–Bangladesh land crossing points, as well as most sea and air ports.
- While land ports are closed, imports via the Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra remain permitted. This single-port policy enables tighter quality checks, fraud control, and enforcement of anti-dumping safeguards.
Main Point :- (i) Bangladesh exports approximately $150 million worth of jute products yearly—around 23% of its jute exports, with 117 exporters heavily reliant on land routes. Alternative sea logistics could increase costs and delay deliveries, potentially undermining Bangladesh’s competitiveness.
(ii) This restriction aligns with India’s earlier April–May curbs on Bangladeshi garments and processed foods, and follows diplomatic tensions sparked by remarks from Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus regarding India’s northeastern connectivity.
(iii) India aims to protect its jute industry from dumped and subsidized imports. The move is expected to reshape trade dynamics, strengthen bilateral trade terms, and shift jute routing via monitored sea channels, reinforcing regulatory oversight and reciprocal export measures.
About Bangladesh
President: Mohammed Shahabuddin
Currency: Bangladeshi Taka
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