How to Export Engineering Goods from India — Complete Guide

Engineering goods are India's single largest export category, and within this vast sector, iron and steel structures, tubes, pipes, fittings, and industrial valves — covered under HS headings 7304-7308 and 8481 — represent a $5.35 billion export business in 2024-25. India is the world's second-largest steel producer and a major supplier of fabricated steel structures, seamless and welded pipes, industrial valves, and pipeline fittings to global infrastructure and energy projects.

For MSME manufacturers in India's engineering clusters — Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Mumbai, Chennai, Ludhiana, Jalandhar — export offers access to large-scale infrastructure projects in the Middle East, USA, and Europe where Indian products are already well-established and price-competitive.

India's Engineering Goods Export Landscape

India exported $5.35 billion in steel structures, tubes, pipes, and valves in 2024-25, down from $6.98 billion in 2023-24 due to softer global demand and steel price moderation.

HS Heading	Category	2024-25 Exports (USD Million)	Share
7308	Iron/steel structures and parts	$1,433.5	26.8%
8481	Taps, valves, and similar	$1,159.7	21.7%
7305	Tubes and pipes (>406mm diameter)	$915.4	17.1%
7307	Tube/pipe fittings	$826.9	15.5%
7306	Welded tubes and pipes	$563.8	10.5%
7304	Seamless tubes and pipes	$446.8	8.4%

Steel structures ($1.43B) lead, reflecting India's strength in fabricated steel for construction, bridges, and industrial plants. Industrial valves ($1.16B) represent India's growing presence in oil & gas, petrochemical, and water infrastructure projects globally.

Where Indian Engineering Goods Are in Demand

The USA is the largest single destination for Indian engineering goods, driven by demand for steel tubes, pipes, castings, and industrial machinery. European markets — Germany, Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands — are important for precision-engineered components and industrial equipment. The Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia) is a major market for structural steel products and construction equipment, driven by ongoing infrastructure projects. Southeast Asia and Africa are growing markets for Indian engineering products, particularly agricultural machinery, pumps, and construction equipment.

Want the full country-by-country breakdown? See exact export values, growth rates, tariff rates, and market attractiveness scores for every destination in our detailed data pages. View Engineering Goods export data by country →

Manufacturing Clusters

Ahmedabad-Rajkot (Gujarat)

• India's largest valve manufacturing cluster
• Ball valves, gate valves, globe valves, butterfly valves
• Pipeline fittings (flanges, elbows, tees, reducers)
• Also strong in forgings and castings

Mumbai-Thane-Pune (Maharashtra)

• Steel fabrication, structural steel
• Precision valves for oil & gas
• Large-diameter pipe manufacturing (LSAW, spiral welded)

Ludhiana-Jalandhar (Punjab)

• Steel forgings, hand tools, fasteners
• Stainless steel pipe fittings
• Auto components and agricultural machinery

Chennai-Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

• Precision-machined valves and fittings
• Pump and compressor components
• CNC machining centres

HS Code Classification

6-Digit Code	Description	Key Products
730411	Seamless pipes, stainless steel	Oil & gas, chemical plant piping
730419	Seamless pipes, other steel	Boiler tubes, structural tubes
730511	Line pipe, longitudinally welded (>406mm)	Oil/gas transmission pipelines
730630	Welded tubes, circular, iron/steel	Construction, fencing, scaffolding
730721	Flanges, stainless steel	Pipeline connections
730729	Other tube fittings, stainless steel	Elbows, tees, reducers
730890	Other structures, iron/steel	Fabricated steel frames, towers
848110	Pressure reducing valves	Industrial process control
848180	Other taps, cocks, valves	Ball valves, gate valves, butterfly

Classification tip: The distinction between seamless (7304) and welded (7305/7306) pipes is fundamental — they have different tariff rates and different technical applications. Seamless pipes are used for high-pressure applications (oil & gas); welded pipes for structural and low-pressure uses.

Use the HS Code Finder for precise classification.

Quality Standards and Certifications

International Standards (Non-Negotiable)

Standard	Scope	Required For
ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)	Pressure vessels, piping, valves	USA, Middle East oil & gas
API (American Petroleum Institute)	Oil & gas equipment (API 5L, API 6D, API 600)	Global oil & gas projects
EN/BS Standards	European/British standards for steel products	EU and UK markets
ISO 9001:2015	Quality management system	All markets
ISO 14001	Environmental management	EU, increasingly required
PED 2014/68/EU	Pressure Equipment Directive	EU market (mandatory)
NACE MR0175	Sour service materials	Oil & gas (H₂S environments)
ASTM Standards	Material specifications (ASTM A106, A312, A182, etc.)	Global specification standard

Product-Specific Certifications

• API 5L — Line pipe for oil/gas transmission (PSL1/PSL2 levels)
• API 6D — Pipeline valves
• API 600/602 — Steel gate valves
• ASME B16.5 — Pipe flanges
• ASME B16.9 — Factory-made wrought fittings
• CE Marking — Mandatory for products entering the EU market under PED

Third-Party Inspection (TPI)

Major buyers require third-party inspection by internationally recognised agencies:

• Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, TÜV, SGS, DNV
• Inspection covers: material test certificates, dimensional inspection, hydrostatic testing, NDT (non-destructive testing — radiography, ultrasonic, magnetic particle, dye penetrant)
• Cost: 0.5-2% of order value, but non-negotiable for project orders

Testing and Certification Costs and Timelines

API certification (e.g., API 6D for pipeline valves, API 5L for line pipe) involves an initial application fee of $3,000-5,000, an audit fee of $5,000-10,000, and ongoing annual renewal of $2,000-4,000. The process takes 6-12 months from application to certificate. ASME certification (U, S, PP stamps) requires a formal quality system review by an ASME Authorized Inspection Agency (AIA) — National Board or Hartford Steam Boiler — with costs of $15,000-50,000 for the initial survey and audit depending on the scope. CE marking under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) requires assessment by a Notified Body (TÜV, Lloyd's, Bureau Veritas) with costs of Rs 5-15 lakh for the initial assessment and annual surveillance audits. For NDT testing, NABL-accredited labs and Level III certified NDT operators charge Rs 500-2,000 per weld joint for radiographic testing and Rs 200-500 per joint for ultrasonic testing. Hydrostatic testing of pipes and valves is typically done in-house under TPI witness, with test pump and equipment costs being a necessary capital investment for any serious exporter.

Material Testing and Traceability

Mill Test Certificates (MTC/MTR)

Every engineering product for export requires a Mill Test Certificate (EN 10204 Type 3.1 or 3.2):

• Chemical composition — Spectrometer analysis of every heat/batch
• Mechanical properties — Tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, hardness, impact testing (Charpy V-notch)
• Full traceability — Heat number, lot number traceable to raw material source

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

• Radiography (RT) — For weld quality assessment in pipes and pressure vessels
• Ultrasonic Testing (UT) — Wall thickness and flaw detection
• Magnetic Particle (MPI) — Surface crack detection on ferromagnetic materials
• Hydrostatic Testing — Pressure testing to 1.5x design pressure

Packaging and Labelling

Pipes and Tubes

• Bundled in hexagonal bundles, strapped with steel bands
• End caps (plastic or metal) on all pipe ends to prevent damage and contamination
• Marking on each pipe: size, wall thickness, grade, heat number, manufacturer's mark, standard (e.g., "ASTM A106 Gr.B, NPS 4, SCH 40, Heat No. XXXX")

Fittings and Flanges

• Packed in wooden cases or palletised in cardboard cartons
• Each piece individually tagged with size, rating, material grade, heat number
• VCI (Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor) wrapping for corrosion protection during transit

Valves

• Wooden crates for large valves, cardboard boxes for smaller ones
• Body and actuator packed separately for large valve assemblies
• Operating instructions, maintenance manuals, and GA (General Arrangement) drawings included

Labelling Requirements

• ASME/API mark stamped on product (if certified)
• CE mark for EU-bound products
• Material grade, size, pressure rating permanently marked (stencil, stamp, or tag)
• USA market: "Buy America" compliance may apply for federally funded infrastructure projects — verify whether the end-use project requires domestic sourcing preferences. Country of origin marking per US Customs (19 CFR 134).
• EU market: CE Declaration of Conformity must accompany each shipment with reference to the applicable directive (PED, CPR for construction products, or Machinery Directive). Technical files must be available for inspection by market surveillance authorities.
• Middle East (GCC): GSO conformity certificates may be required. Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, and other national oil companies maintain Approved Vendor Lists (AVLs) — registration on these lists requires factory audits, qualification testing, and documentation submission that can take 12-18 months.
• Country of origin: "Made in India"

Pricing Strategy

Product Type	FOB Price Range	Key Factor
Seamless pipes (per tonne)	$1,200-$3,500	Material grade, wall thickness
Welded pipes (per tonne)	$800-$2,000	Diameter, length, coating
Pipe fittings (per piece)	$5-$500	Size, material, pressure rating
Flanges (per piece)	$3-$200	Size, class rating (150-2500#)
Ball valves (per piece)	$20-$5,000	Size, material, pressure class
Gate valves (per piece)	$30-$10,000	Size, pressure rating
Fabricated structures (per tonne)	$1,500-$3,000	Complexity, coating, certification

India's cost advantage in engineering goods is typically 20-35% over European and 15-25% over Chinese manufacturers, driven by lower labour costs and domestic steel availability.

Logistics

Shipping

• Sea freight for all bulk orders (containers or break-bulk for oversized items)
• Project cargo for large structures and equipment (RO-RO, flat rack containers, or charter vessels)
• Air freight only for urgent spare parts ($5-15/kg)

Transit Times

• JNPT to USA East Coast: 28-35 days
• Mundra to UAE: 4-6 days
• Chennai to EU: 18-24 days
• Mundra to Saudi Arabia (Dammam): 8-12 days

Container Capacity

• 20-ft container: 20-22 tonnes of steel products
• 40-ft container: 22-26 tonnes (weight-limited, not volume-limited for steel)
• Flat rack: For oversized structures, large-diameter pipes

Freight Costs

• 20-ft container to UAE: $800-$1,800
• 40-ft container to USA: $3,000-$5,500
• Break-bulk to Middle East: $40-$80/tonne

Documentation

1. Commercial Invoice (with full technical description)
2. Packing List (piece-by-piece for fittings/valves)
3. Bill of Lading
4. Certificate of Origin (CEPA for UAE, standard for others)
5. Mill Test Certificates (EN 10204 Type 3.1/3.2)
6. Third-Party Inspection Certificate (Lloyd's, BV, TÜV)
7. Hydrostatic Test Certificate
8. NDT Reports (radiography, UT, MPI as applicable)
9. CE Declaration of Conformity (for EU)
10. Shipping Bill (via ICEGATE)
11. Insurance Certificate

Government Incentives

• RoDTEP — 0.5-2% of FOB value
• EPCG Scheme — Duty-free import of capital goods (CNC machines, testing equipment) against export obligation
• Advance Authorisation — Duty-free import of raw steel against confirmed export orders
• EEPC India membership — Engineering Export Promotion Council provides market intelligence, trade fair access
• Duty Drawback — 1-2.5%
• Star Export House benefits for exporters with turnover >Rs 50 crore
• RoDTEP specifics — Engineering goods under HS 7304-7308 attract RoDTEP rates of 0.5-1.5% of FOB value. Valves (HS 8481) receive 1-2%. While these rates appear modest, on high-value shipments they add up significantly — a Rs 5 crore order at 1.5% RoDTEP yields Rs 7.5 lakh in duty credit.
• ECGC Project Export Cover — For large infrastructure project orders, ECGC offers specific project export policies that cover political and commercial risks for contracts spanning multiple years. This is essential for orders from countries in Africa and Central Asia where political risk is elevated.
• EEPC India Trade Fairs — EEPC organises India Engineering exhibitions and sponsors Indian pavilions at ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi), OTC (Houston), Valve World (Düsseldorf), HANNOVER MESSE, Tube & Wire (Düsseldorf), and Big 5 (Dubai). MSME exhibitors receive substantial subsidies through the MAI scheme.

Common Mistakes

Not getting API/ASME certification. Without API or ASME certification, you cannot bid on oil & gas or infrastructure projects — which represent 70% of the export opportunity. Budget 6-12 months and $20,000-$100,000 for certification, but it opens the door to multi-million dollar orders.

Supplying incorrect material grades. Mixing up material grades (e.g., ASTM A106 Grade B vs. Grade C) can have catastrophic consequences in high-pressure applications. Implement positive material identification (PMI) testing on 100% of outgoing products.

Ignoring anti-dumping duties. Several countries (USA, EU, Turkey) have active anti-dumping duties on Indian steel products. Check the current AD/CVD order list before quoting — your buyer may face 5-50% additional duty.

Incomplete documentation. A missing MTR or NDT report can hold up a $500,000 shipment at the port. Engineering exports are documentation-intensive — build a document control system and check every document before shipping.

Underestimating project timelines. Infrastructure project orders have strict delivery schedules with liquidated damages for late delivery (typically 0.5-1% per week). Don't commit to timelines you can't meet.

Not understanding Approved Vendor Lists (AVLs). Major EPC contractors (Bechtel, Technip, Fluor, L&T) and end-users (Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, Shell) maintain AVLs of pre-qualified suppliers. You cannot bid on projects without AVL registration, which requires factory audits, product qualification testing, and reference order histories. Start the AVL registration process 12-18 months before targeting project orders — it is a prerequisite, not an afterthought.

Neglecting surface protection and coating quality. Engineering products shipped to coastal or marine environments require robust surface protection — hot-dip galvanising, fusion-bonded epoxy, or three-layer polyethylene coating for buried pipelines. Coating failures during transit or after installation are a common complaint that leads to expensive rework. Invest in proper surface preparation (Sa 2.5 blast cleaning per ISO 8501) and coating application, and include coating inspection in your TPI scope.

Key Takeaways

• India exported $5.35 billion in steel structures, pipes, fittings, and valves in 2024-25
• USA ($1.66B), UAE ($605M), and Saudi Arabia ($422M) are the top markets
• API, ASME, and PED certifications are mandatory for most export opportunities
• Material test certificates and third-party inspection are non-negotiable
• India offers 20-35% cost advantage over European competitors
• Anti-dumping duties are a risk — check current AD/CVD orders for your HS code
• EEPC India membership provides market access and trade fair support

Next Steps

1. Identify your HS code with the HS Code Finder — seamless vs. welded, steel grade matters
2. Get API/ASME certified — the gateway to oil & gas and infrastructure projects
3. Check tariff rates using the Duty Calculator — verify no AD duties apply
4. Join EEPC India for engineering export promotion support
5. Invest in testing infrastructure — PMI gun, hardness tester, UTM, hydrostatic test bench
6. Explore market opportunities with the Market Finder
7. Attend trade fairs — ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi), Valve World (Düsseldorf), OTC (Houston)

India's engineering goods sector is built on world-class steel production, competitive manufacturing costs, and a deep pool of technical talent. For MSMEs that invest in certification and quality infrastructure, engineering exports offer large-ticket, repeat-order business that scales.