Meaning of Exports and Imports in India?

 

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This is a simple question, but an interesting one. Do you know the meaning of Exports? I guess more than 95% of you do not . Read this article and ask yourself - ‘Did I know till reading this page?’
How many of you know the meaning of Exports and Imports in India Almost all of us know the meaning of exports in general terms is ‘ any goods moved out of the country is called exports’. But some of you who studied academically about exports may say, ‘ If any goods crossing border of a country is called exports’.
In India, “as per section 2(18) of Customs Act defines "export" as meaning, with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, taking out of India to a place outside India”.

Ok, Let me explain with an example. An exporter moves cargo from New Delhi to Mumbai port after completing necessary legal customs export formalities and obtaining ‘let export order’. The cargo was loaded in to a container and confirms ‘On board’ the Vessel. The Vessel carrying the said cargo sails from the land of Mumbai port. It is clear that the cargo crossed out the land border of India. Based on the above definition, can we call ‘exports’ now? Answer is ‘No’. Why?
Although the cargo crossed out the land border of India, it has not been moved outside ‘India’. Why?.
Export means ‘taking out of India to a place outside India'. Here we need to find out the definition of ‘India’. 'India' is defined in section 2(27) of Indian Customs Act ‘to include the territorial waters of India’. Then what is the territorial waters limit of India? Territorial water is up to 12 nautical miles (1 nautical miles = 1.852 kilo meters) in to the sea from the coast of India.
In the above example, once after moving vessel carrying the said cargo cross 12 nautical miles in to the sea from the coast of Mumbai port, we can call the said shipment “exported”.
I would like to conclude the article as below:
a) Export means ‘Taking out of India to a place outside territorial waters of India which is 12 nautical miles into the sea from the coast of India”. (This definition is redefined by the author of this blog)
b) Import means ‘Bringing in to India from a place inside territorial waters of India which is 12 nautical miles in to the sea from the coast of India’ (Redefined by the author of this blog.) The liability to pay import duty commences as soon as the goods entered 12 nautical miles in to the sea from the coast of India.

Update:  For the purpose of determination of rate of customs duty, concept of territorial waters limit is not relevant.

To know more about the term ‘ Export’ , ‘Import’, ‘Territorial water of India’ etc. read the following court judgments:

Judgement about Export,Import and Territorial waters of India -1
http://www.howtoexportimport.com/Judgement-about-Export-Import-and-Territorial-wate-256.aspx  

Judgement about Export,Import and Territorial waters of India -2
http://www.howtoexportimport.com/-Judgement-about-Export-Import-and-Territorial-wat-257.aspx 

Judgement about Export,Import and Territorial waters of India -3
http://www.howtoexportimport.com/Judgement-about-Export-Import-and-Territorial-wate-258.aspx 

Judgement about Export,Import and Territorial waters of India -4
http://www.howtoexportimport.com/Judgement-about-Export-Import-and-Territorial-wate-259.aspx 

Judgement about Export,Import and Territorial waters of India -5
http://www.howtoexportimport.com/Judgement-about-Export-Import-and-Territorial-wate-260.aspx

 

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Comments


Anil: Good one- I didn't know!

Masum Barbhuiya: Hi, Readings are pretty useful.I am an Economics Graduate and have an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Bangalore.I have work work experience of more than a year in a global MNC Bank in Mumbai. Now I want to start my own Business in Export-Import in Mumbai.Kindly sugest all the procedures including a competetive product selection. Looking forward.. Regards, Masum

abhi roy: I do want bussiness from china but how satarting bussiness from chaina.

Ishtiyaq: 12 nautical miles = 22.224 Kilometer

samina sayyed : I am B.com Graduate and i really wanted to start business of import and export & currently working with import export Company.please guide

samina sayyed : I am B.com Graduate and i really wanted to start business of import and export & currently working with import export Company.please guide

Sathyanarayana: The definition moving out of territorial waters is called exports is a bit misguiding, for eg if one were to export to Bangladesh from India and moves the cargo across the land it should become an export. With regard to export by sea guess it should be that export is when it moves out of the territorial waters which should be considered the border and not when loaded on the ship at the port of loading.

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