What changed for seafood exporters in Union Budget 2026?

The duty-free input limit for seafood processing rose from 1% to 3% of last year’s FOB value. This widens the basket of zero-duty inputs, cuts unit costs, and can support margins or sharper pricing in tenders. Benefits scale with export volumes and robust documentation.

How does this policy help against US tariffs on India?

Lower input costs reduce the baseline on which exporters price goods, partially absorbing the impact of up to 50% US tariffs. Firms can preserve volumes by keeping offer prices competitive or protect margins by holding prices, depending on demand, contracts, and currency conditions.

Where should I look in the budget 2026 pdf for details?

Check tax proposals, customs sections, and annexures in the budget 2026 pdf for the seafood cap change and footwear input coverage. Then monitor follow-up notifications and circulars for compliance steps, eligible inputs, and documentation requirements before placing duty-free import orders.

Which sectors are most likely to benefit for investors?

Marine exporters, leather and footwear manufacturers, and textiles linked to footwear components appear best placed. Gains depend on input mix, US order exposure, and compliance discipline. Watch guidance on gross margins, order wins, and inventory turns to gauge how relief translates into earnings.

Law and Government

February 02: India Budget 2026 Export Duty Relief Counters US Tariffs

ByDanny Kontos February 2, 2026February 2, 2026

The budget 2026 pdf puts exporters at the center of policy. India raised duty-free input limits for seafood processing from 1% to 3% of last year’s FOB value and extended leather and footwear input relief to shoe uppers. The package targets margin support and aims to offset up to 50% US tariffs. We explain what changes, why it matters for marine, leather, and textile exporters, and how investors can read the budget 2026 pdf for practical signals.