HS code 0901 covers coffee beans, ground coffee, and coffee extracts. These attract India's highest agricultural BCD at 100%, giving a total effective duty of approximately 115%. Specialty coffee from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Panama is still imported for the premium café market.
Quick answer: HS code 0901 covers coffee beans, ground coffee, and coffee extracts. BCD: 100%. IGST: 5%. Social Welfare Surcharge: 10% of BCD. Total effective duty: approximately 115% on CIF value. FSSAI import licence and Plant Quarantine clearance for green beans are mandatory.
HS code 0901 covers coffee whether or not roasted or decaffeinated. 09011110 covers green coffee beans (not decaf). 09012200 covers roasted coffee. 09021010 covers green tea (for reference). India is the sixth-largest coffee producer globally, and the 100% BCD is explicitly protective of domestic growers.
Instant coffee uses HS 2101. Coffee extracts and essences use HS 2101. Tea uses HS 0902. Cocoa uses HS 1801. Correct classification between raw coffee (0901), instant coffee (2101), and coffee preparations is essential for correct duty.
Related resources: find HS codes for other products, food import FSSAI guide.
Total effective duty on CIF value = BCD + SWS (10% of BCD) + IGST on (CIF + BCD + SWS). For HS code 0901, BCD is 100% and IGST is 5%.
| Duty Component | Rate | On ₹100,000 CIF (100 kg specialty coffee) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Customs Duty (BCD) | 100% | ₹100,000 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) | 10% of BCD | ₹10,000 |
| IGST | 5% | ₹10,500 |
| Total Customs Duty | ~120.5% of CIF | ₹120,500 |
Note: The 100% BCD is among the highest in the world for coffee. Specialty/single-origin coffee from Ethiopia, Colombia, Panama is imported despite high duty for the premium café and retail market.
Coffee does not qualify for EPCG or project import concessions. The 100% BCD is protective and applies uniformly regardless of origin. FTA concessions do not typically apply to agricultural products at this BCD level.
Use our import duty calculator to compute exact landed cost for your shipment.
FSSAI import licence is mandatory for all food products including coffee. Unprocessed green coffee beans additionally require Plant Quarantine clearance.
All food products including coffee require FSSAI registration/licence for the importer. Unprocessed green coffee beans additionally require Plant Quarantine clearance (agricultural commodity inspection) from the Department of Agriculture.
Roasted and packaged coffee requires FSSAI NOC for new products not previously sold in India.
Labels must include: brand name, product type (Arabica/Robusta/blend), batch number, roasting date, best-before date, net weight, FSSAI licence number, importer details, and country of origin.
Need help with compliance? check your compliance requirements or read our customs clearance guide.
Typical lead time: 30–45 days including FSSAI and Plant Quarantine clearance plus shipping.
Our customs clearance guide explains each step in detail. For Bengaluru-bound cargo, we clear at BLR airport (6–12 hours for green channel air freight) or ICD Whitefield (2–4 days for sea freight).
Coffee beans (HS 09011110) attract BCD of 100%, SWS 10% (10% of BCD), and IGST 5% on the duty-inclusive value. Total effective duty is approximately 115% of CIF value. Roasted coffee (HS 09012200) also attracts 100% BCD. This protective duty supports India's domestic coffee growers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
India is the sixth-largest coffee producer globally. The 100% BCD is a protective measure to support domestic growers (particularly in Coorg, Chikmagalur, and Nilgiris). India exports about 70% of its coffee production, so the 100% import duty essentially discourages most commercial imports.
Yes — unique origins like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Panama Gesha, and Kona attract premium market buyers willing to pay 2× the cost inclusive of duty. Specialty coffee importers typically sell at ₹3,000–₹10,000/kg retail, making the duty economically viable.
Yes. All food products including coffee require FSSAI registration/licence for the importer. Unprocessed green coffee beans additionally require Plant Quarantine clearance (agricultural commodity inspection). Roasted and packaged coffee requires FSSAI NOC for new products.
Genuine trade samples (typically under 1 kg with 'Sample — Not for Sale' declaration, mutilated, and below ₹10,000 CIF) may qualify for concessional treatment. Commercial samples above this threshold attract full duty. Document clearly as samples on the invoice.
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