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Sub-Saharan Africa · LS

India Lesotho

India exported USD 8.8 mn to Lesotho in 2024, led by HS 30, and imported USD 46.2 mn. Here are the documents, the gateways and how SSL moves your cargo on the India side.

  • AgreementIndia-SACU PTA: under negotiation
  • CurrencyLSL L
  • CurrencyZAR R
  • Time−3h30 vs IST
  • CapitalMaseru
  • AccessLandlocked
Get a quote for Lesotho How exporting works
  • Road
  • Air
  1. Road leg in India to the gateway, SSL fleet · Road
  2. Air leg to Lesotho · Air

Road in India, then sea or air onward

Exports from India
USD 8.8 mn
Imports into India
USD 46.2 mn
Trade partner rank
#155

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

At a glance

Region
Sub-Saharan AfricaSouthern Africa
Income group
Lower middle incomeWorld Bank
Currency
LSL, ZARLesotho loti, South African rand
Languages
English, Sotho
Capital
Maseru
Time
−3h30 vs ISTUTC+02:00
Access
Landlocked
Trade partner rank
#1550.005% of India's trade

Trade agreements: No India trade agreement in force (MFN terms; check GSTP separately). · India-SACU PTA: under negotiation. 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 Lesotho

USD 8.8 mnIndia's exports to Lesotho, 2024 (FOB)
0.00%of India's exports to the world
USD 55.0 mntwo-way trade, 2024
India's top exports to Lesotho, 2024
  1. HS 30 Pharmaceutical products USD 6.4 mn73%
  2. HS 10 Cereals USD 1.0 mn12%
  3. HS 84 Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear reactors USD 560 thousand6%
  4. HS 40 Rubber and articles thereof USD 267 thousand3%
  5. HS 39 Plastics and articles thereof USD 171 thousand2%

Gateways in Lesotho

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

Airports: Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU)

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 Lesotho to India

USD 46.2 mnIndia's imports from Lesotho, 2024 (CIF)
84%of the two-way trade is India buying
India's top imports from Lesotho, 2024
  1. HS 71 Natural, cultured pearls USD 45.3 mn98%
  2. HS 72 Iron and steel USD 780 thousand2%
  3. HS 12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits USD 93 thousand0.2%
  4. HS 61 Apparel and clothing accessories USD 2240.0%

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. No agreement rate is available, so the standard tariff applies. Read the import guide →

How SSL moves it

Road in India, then sea or air onward

India leg: by road to the Indian gateway

SSL's fleet moves your cargo by road to and from India's ports and airports.

International leg. The air leg, or the sea leg through a neighbouring country's port, is arranged by our desk, and our desk arranges customs clearance.

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 Lesotho. Guide →
HS code
Classify every line under the HS nomenclature; India's largest export chapter to Lesotho in 2024 was HS 30. The 8-digit ITC(HS) code goes on the shipping bill. Guide →
Incoterms
Lesotho 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
Non-preferential CoO Guide →

Questions about shipping between India and Lesotho

Does India have a free trade agreement with Lesotho?
Not in force yet. India-SACU PTA is under negotiation. Until it is in force, trade with Lesotho runs at normal (MFN) duty rates. Source: India Briefing FTA tracker, 2026.
What does India export to Lesotho?
India exported USD 8.8 mn of goods to Lesotho in 2024. The largest chapters were HS 30 pharmaceutical products (USD 6.4 mn), HS 10 cereals (USD 1.0 mn), HS 84 machinery and mechanical appliances, bo… (USD 560 thousand). That is 0.00% of India's exports to the world. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024, exports FOB.
What does India import from Lesotho?
India imported USD 46.2 mn from Lesotho in 2024, mainly HS 71 natural, cultured pearls (USD 45.3 mn), HS 72 iron and steel (USD 780 thousand), HS 12 oil seeds and oleaginous fruits (USD 93 thousand). 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-Lesotho trade?
Two-way goods trade between India and Lesotho was USD 55.0 mn in 2024, 0.005% of India's total, which ranks Lesotho number 155 among India's trading partners. India imports more than it exports on this lane. Source: UN Comtrade, India as reporter, 2024.
How long does shipping from India to Lesotho take?
No public port-to-port benchmark for India to Lesotho is published on this page yet. Our desk confirms the current sailing or flight time for your cargo when it quotes. Source: SSL global dataset, 29 Sep 2026.
What certificate of origin do I need to export to Lesotho?
A non-preferential certificate of origin is the usual document; 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.
What is the time difference between India and Lesotho?
Maseru runs at UTC+02:00 in 2026, which is −3h30 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 Lesotho 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.

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