Search⌘K

South Asia · BT

India Bhutan

India exported USD 1.17 bn to Bhutan in 2024, led by HS 27, and imported USD 435.6 mn. Here are the documents, the gateways and how SSL moves your cargo on the India side.

  • AgreementSouth Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA)
  • AgreementIndia-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit
  • CurrencyBTN Nu.
  • CurrencyINR ₹
  • Time+0h30 vs IST
  • CapitalThimphu
  • AccessLand border with India
Get a quote for Bhutan How exporting works
  • Road
  1. Road: India to Bhutan, SSL trucks · Road

Road corridor: open

Exports from India
USD 1.17 bn
Imports into India
USD 435.6 mn
Trade partner rank
#65

Happiness, on this lane, is the buyer in Thimphu whose goods arrive on the promised day, and the shipper in India who never has to chase.

At a glance

Region
South AsiaSouthern Asia
Income group
Lower middle incomeWorld Bank
Currency
BTN, INRBhutanese ngultrum, Indian rupee
Languages
Dzongkha
Capital
Thimphu
Time
+0h30 vs ISTUTC+06:00
Access
Land border with Indialandlocked
Trade partner rank
#650.14% of India's trade

Trade agreements: Preferential access under: South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA); India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit. Sources: World Bank country classification; ISO 4217 and languages via mledoze/countries; IANA time zones; agreements per India Briefing FTA tracker and Invest India.

Ship from India to Bhutan

USD 1.17 bnIndia's exports to Bhutan, 2024 (FOB)
0.27%of India's exports to the world
USD 1.61 bntwo-way trade, 2024
India's top exports to Bhutan, 2024
  1. HS 27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation USD 266.5 mn23%
  2. HS 85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof USD 112.1 mn10%
  3. HS 84 Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors USD 90.9 mn8%
  4. HS 88 Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof USD 79.0 mn7%
  5. HS 72 Iron and steel USD 69.9 mn6%

Gateways in Bhutan

Seaports: Landlocked: sea cargo moves through a neighbouring country's port.

Airports: Paro International Airport (PBH)

OurAirports: large (else medium) airports with scheduled service and an IATA code. Direct service from India NOT verified.

Transit time

No public port-to-port benchmark is published here yet. We do not guess one: our desk gives you the current sailing or flight time with the quote.

Source: UN Comtrade, 2024. India as reporter; exports FOB, imports CIF; general trade, all modes; HS 2022 (H6) chapters. Retrieved 29 Sep 2026.

Import from Bhutan to India

USD 435.6 mnIndia's imports from Bhutan, 2024 (CIF)
27%of the two-way trade is India buying
India's top imports from Bhutan, 2024
  1. HS 72 Iron and steel USD 194.4 mn45%
  2. HS 88 Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof USD 97.5 mn22%
  3. HS 25 Salt USD 93.8 mn22%
  4. HS 22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar USD 21.3 mn5%
  5. HS 28 Inorganic chemicals USD 12.5 mn3%

On arrival in India the importer files a bill of entry on ICEGATE; customs assesses basic customs duty, the social welfare surcharge and IGST on the assessable value. To pay the lower rate under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) or India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit, the importer must hold origin proof and answer CAROTAR 2020 origin checks. Read the import guide →

How SSL moves it

Road corridor: open

India leg: our trucks, across the border

SSL runs full truckloads into this country by road (volume in the FY 2025-26 booking register). Border customs is handled by the shipper's customs broker.

Land crossing: Jaigaon (IN) and Phuentsholing (BT). Free-trade regime under the 2016 Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.

Ask our desk for a quote Email the desk

Outside India? Email (corporatesales@sslpl.in) is the easiest way for our desk to reply across time zones. WhatsApp +91 75062 45557 works too.

Documents

General guidance: verify every shipment with your customs broker and the current DGFT and CBIC notifications.

IEC
An Importer-Exporter Code from DGFT is needed for any commercial shipment to or from Bhutan. Guide →
HS code
Classify every line under the HS nomenclature; India's largest export chapter to Bhutan in 2024 was HS 27. The 8-digit ITC(HS) code goes on the shipping bill. Guide →
Incoterms
Bhutan is landlocked, so the multimodal terms (FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP) fit better than FOB or CIF, which are for sea legs only. Guide →
Certificate of origin
Preferential CoO available under: South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA); India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit Guide →

Questions about shipping between India and Bhutan

Does India have a free trade agreement with Bhutan?
Yes. Goods can qualify for preferential duty under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and India-Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit, provided they meet the rules of origin and carry a preferential certificate of origin. Source: India Briefing FTA tracker / Invest India, 2026.
What does India export to Bhutan?
India exported USD 1.17 bn of goods to Bhutan in 2024. The largest chapters were HS 27 mineral fuels, mineral oils and product… (USD 266.5 mn), HS 85 electrical machinery and equipment and… (USD 112.1 mn), HS 84 machinery and mechanical appliances, bo… (USD 90.9 mn). That is 0.27% of India's exports to the world. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, exports FOB.
What does India import from Bhutan?
India imported USD 435.6 mn from Bhutan in 2024, mainly HS 72 iron and steel (USD 194.4 mn), HS 88 aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof (USD 97.5 mn), HS 25 salt (USD 93.8 mn). To claim a lower agreement rate on these goods, the importer needs origin proof under CAROTAR 2020. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, imports CIF.
How big is India-Bhutan trade?
Two-way goods trade between India and Bhutan was USD 1.61 bn in 2024, 0.14% of India's total, which ranks Bhutan number 65 among India's trading partners. India exports more than it imports on this lane. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024.
How long does shipping from India to Bhutan take?
By road, through Jaigaon (IN) and Phuentsholing (BT). Door-to-door time depends on the Indian origin and border clearance; our desk quotes it per lane. Source: pib.gov.in.
What certificate of origin do I need to export to Bhutan?
A preferential certificate of origin under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) lets the buyer in Bhutan claim the lower duty; both kinds are issued through the DGFT e-CoO platform (coo.dgft.gov.in). Check the buyer's letter of credit or import rules for the exact form. Source: DGFT, 2026.
Can I send goods from India to Bhutan by road?
Yes. The main crossing is Jaigaon (IN) and Phuentsholing (BT). Free-trade regime under the 2016 Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit.
What is the time difference between India and Bhutan?
Thimphu runs at UTC+06:00 in 2026, which is +0h30 vs IST. Plan calls and cut-offs with our desk in IST; we reply by email across time zones. Source: IANA time-zone database, 2026.
Does Safe & Secure Logistics clear customs for Bhutan shipments?
Yes. Our desk arranges clearance for your shipment, or works with your own broker, while SSL's fleet runs the road leg in India. Our desk shares the operator's licence and documents for your shipment on request. Source: SSL site facts, 29 Sep 2026.

Keep exploring

Data: UN Comtrade 2024 · retrieved 29 Sep 2026. Company figures appear only where sourced from SSL's own register.

Chat with SSL

Talk to a person