Shipping from India via WooCommerce has become more complex in 2025 due to international sanctions, evolving trade rules, and compliance requirements. Whether you’re selling locally or globally, understanding how these restrictions affect shipping, customs, and delivery timelines is key to smooth operations and satisfied customers.
This guide covers the main challenges, compliance requirements, what products Indian WooCommerce stores can and cannot export, and best practices for international shipping.
On This Page:
- Exporting from India: Key Regulatory Updates
- Customs, Duties & Compliance for WooCommerce Shipping from India
- Choosing the Right Carriers for International Shipping
- How to Ship from India with WooCommerce
- Best Practices for WooCommerce Shipments from India
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Exporting from India: Key Regulatory Updates
U.S. Tariffs on Indian Exports
In 2025, the United States imposed higher tariffs on certain Indian exports. These increases affect WooCommerce store owners exporting products to the U.S., leading to higher costs and potential delays. Store owners should review the tariff schedules to plan pricing strategies effectively.
To learn more about the US tariff and its impact, check out U.S. Tariff & Import Changes: What WooCommerce Merchants Need to Know.
EU Sanctions Impacting Indian Exports
Although India itself is not sanctioned, EU sanctions on Russian goods and shipping indirectly affect supply chains. Products with components routed via EU logistics may face increased shipping costs and delays.
UK Sanctions on Russian-linked Goods
Indian exports containing Russian-origin components may incur additional duties under UK sanctions. WooCommerce store owners must verify product origins to avoid extra duties or shipment blocks.
Sanctions in 2025 directly affect WooCommerce stores shipping from India by increasing costs, complicating logistics, and requiring compliance checks.
Customs, Duties & Compliance for WooCommerce Shipping from India
Shipping from India requires navigating customs regulations, export duties, and compliance requirements to avoid penalties and ensure timely delivery.
What Indian WooCommerce Stores Can and Cannot Export
- Allowed Products: Handicrafts, textiles, apparel, jewelry, cosmetics, home décor, and non-restricted electronics.
- Restricted/Prohibited Products: Firearms, counterfeit goods, certain chemicals, some high-tech electronics, and any items flagged by DGFT or RBI export guidelines.
- Some products allowed in India for export may be restricted or require permits in the destination country (e.g., cosmetics, food, electronics, or pharmaceuticals).
- Always check both the Indian export rules and the destination country import regulations before shipping.
Export Duties and Taxes
- Basic Customs Duty (BCD): Varies by product type, origin, and value.
- Integrated GST (IGST): Applicable on exports to some countries.
- Other Cesses: Depending on product category.
Accurate product valuation and classification are critical to avoid customs delays or fines.
Documentation Requirements
Export shipments from India must include:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
- Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
- Export Declaration Forms
- HS (Harmonized System) Codes for each product
Incomplete or inaccurate documentation can lead to shipments being held or returned.
Right Carriers for Shipping from India in WooCommerce
When shipping internationally from India, selecting the right carrier is crucial to ensure timely delivery, cost efficiency, and smooth customs clearance. Some top options for Indian WooCommerce store owners include:
- DHL Express: Known for fast international shipping and excellent tracking. DHL provides reliable customs support for exports, making it ideal for small to medium packages.
- FedEx: Trusted globally for secure and timely deliveries. FedEx offers strong coverage across major international destinations and handles export documentation efficiently.
- UPS: Offers dependable international shipping with end-to-end tracking and insurance options, suitable for high-value shipments.
- TNT Express: Cost-effective for larger or bulk shipments, with decent delivery times and reliable service, particularly in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions.
- Blue Dart (DHL subsidiary): Offers domestic and international shipping with a strong logistics network in India, ideal for e-commerce merchants.
- DTDC International: Provides cost-effective international shipping options with a wide network, suitable for small and mid-sized WooCommerce businesses.
These carriers help WooCommerce store owners maintain smooth international shipping operations while ensuring packages reach customers safely around the world.
How To Ship from India in WooCommerce
PluginHive offers a suite of WooCommerce shipping plugins to simplify international shipping, ensure tariff compliance, and provide accurate shipping costs at checkout.
Merchant Shipping with UPS and FedEx
Offering international shipping to India via UPS is simple and efficient with the WooCommerce UPS Shipping Plugin with Print Label. With this plugin,
- Merchants can select preferred UPS services in the plugin settings to display at the cart and checkout pages.
- Accordingly, at the cart and checkout, rates are fetched in real-time via API, including duties, taxes, and customs fees applicable.
- Labels and Commercial Invoices can be generated directly from the plugin, which are mandatory for Indian customs clearance.
The plugin also supports ETD, EDI, and EEI documents, ensuring smooth compliance with Indian import regulations.
Similarly, shipping via FedEx using the WooCommerce FedEx Shipping Plugin with Print Label allows accurate duty calculation and ensures all Indian customs documentation requirements are met.
Merchant Shipping with Other International Carriers
To ship via other carriers like DHL, TNT Express, Blue Dart, and more, you can use the WooCommerce Shipping Services plugin. These carriers provide fast delivery, reliable tracking, and customs support for international shipments to India.
Check out this quick video tutorial on how to configure the WooCommerce Shipping Services plugin for your WooCommerce store: Watch the step-by-step guide in this video.
Best Practices for Shipping from India with WooCommerce
Shipping internationally from India efficiently requires following certain best practices to avoid delays, reduce costs, and ensure compliance:
- Accurate Product Declarations: Always declare the correct product description, value, and HS code to avoid customs delays in the destination country.
- Include Commercial Invoices: Generate Commercial Invoices for each shipment; they are mandatory for customs clearance in the importing country.
- Calculate Duties & Taxes: Factor in any export duties, GST, or taxes applicable from India, as well as estimated import duties for the destination country, when displaying shipping costs at checkout.
- Choose Reliable Carriers: Use trusted international carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, TNT, DTDC, or Blue Dart to ensure timely and secure deliveries.
- Stay Updated on Regulations: Keep up with Indian export rules, DGFT notifications, and international trade regulations to maintain smooth shipping operations.
Conclusion
Shipping from India presents both opportunities and challenges for WooCommerce store owners. By understanding export regulations and compliance requirements, merchants can ensure hassle-free deliveries to global customers. With better carrier integrations and growing demand for Indian products worldwide, WooCommerce store owners are well-positioned to expand their reach and serve international markets efficiently.
FAQs
- Can I ship to Mexico using WooCommerce?
Yes! If your store ships internationally beyond India, you can easily send orders to Mexico. Learn more about WooCommerce FedEx Shipping to Mexico.
- What’s the best shipping plugin for Canada shipping?
If you’re managing global fulfillment, including shipments to Canada, the WooCommerce Canada Post Shipping Plugin helps you display live rates, print labels, and share tracking updates seamlessly. Explore the best WooCommerce shipping plugin for Canada Post.
- Can U.S. tariffs and import changes impact WooCommerce stores?
With frequent trade updates, U.S. tariff changes can influence your overall shipping costs and delivery schedules when exporting from or to India. Stay informed about new import rules with the detailed guide on WooCommerce U.S. tariff and import changes.
- Which plugin supports multiple international carrier rates?
For merchants shipping to multiple countries, including India, the WooCommerce Multi-Carrier Shipping Plugin integrates with major couriers like DHL, UPS, FedEx, Stamps.com and USPS, helping you compare rates and manage all shipments from one dashboard.
