Heading · Chapter 86 · Section XVII, Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

HS 8609Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport

Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof, railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof, mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kind

Customs duty
10%
1 tariff item
GST now
18%
Import policy
Free
Export policy
Free
Unit
units
Duty in China
6.5% to 10%
On Indian goods
Search codesRates as on 20 Oct 2026

Codes under this heading

1 code. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.

Codes under this code
CodeDescriptionCustoms dutyGST nowUnit
8609 00 00Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport10%18%units

Importing into India

Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 1 tariff items: 10%. The rules below cover this whole code.

Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty

None in force on this code as on 20 Oct 2026.

Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items

  • Free: 3 tariff items

GST

IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.

  • Now 18%.
  • Until 21 September 2025 18%.
  • Change: Unchanged.

The rules that set it now

GST rate rules in force
NotificationGoodsRate
9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 530Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport [including refrigerated containers]18%

History

GST rate history
PeriodRateNotification
Until 21 Sep 202518%1/2017-Central Tax (Rate)
From 22 Sep 202518%9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)

Exporting from India

Export duty

Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.

Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)

All Industry Rates of duty drawback under this heading
Drawback itemGoodsRateCap
8609Containers (including containers for the transport of fluids) specially designed and equipped for carriage by one or more modes of transport1.7%—

Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 20 Oct 2026.

Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items

  • Free: 3 tariff items

China: the same goods (8609)

China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 8 in force and 2 expired under 8609. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.

China's tariff for these goods
China codeGoodsDuty on Indian goodsMFNImport VATExport rebateLicences
8609.00.11.0020-foot insulated containers20英尺的保温式集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.12.0020-foot tank containers20英尺的罐式集装箱6.5%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.19.00Other 20-foot containers其他20英尺集装箱6.5%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.21.0040-foot insulated containers40英尺的保温式集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.22.0040-foot tank containers40英尺的罐式集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.29.00Other 40-foot containers其他40英尺的集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.30.0045, 48, 53 foot containers45、48、53英尺的集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
8609.00.90.00Other containers其他集装箱10%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line)10%13%13%ABPQ
  • India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
  • The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.

China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.

Nearby codes

Previous8608Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings; mechanical (including electo-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railway, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installation or air-fields; parts of the foregoingOne level upChapter 86Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof, railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof, mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kindNext8701Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709)

Sources

For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.