BCD stands for Basic Customs Duty, the import duty the Indian government levies on solar modules and cells brought into the country. It is charged as a percentage of the assessable (CIF) value of the goods and is a major component of the landed cost of imported modules, alongside freight, other levies and clearing charges. BCD was introduced to encourage domestic solar manufacturing by making imported modules less price-competitive against Indian-made ones. Because the BCD rate directly and significantly affects what you pay to land imported modules in India, and because such duty policy is revised from time to time, you should confirm the current BCD rate for your product with your customs broker before costing any import.
”- BCD is Basic Customs Duty, the import duty on solar modules and cells entering India.
- It is charged as a percentage of the assessable (CIF) value of the goods.
- BCD is a major component of the landed cost of imported modules.
- It exists to encourage domestic manufacturing by making imports less price-competitive.
- BCD policy is revised periodically, confirm the current rate with your broker before costing.
What BCD is
BCD, Basic Customs Duty, is the standard import duty India levies on goods entering the country, including solar modules and cells. It is charged as a percentage of the assessable value of the goods, which for imports is based on the CIF value, the cost, insurance and freight to the Indian port. When you import modules, BCD is calculated and paid at customs as part of clearing the goods, and it is declared on the bill of entry against the module's classification.
Why BCD is applied to solar modules
India introduced BCD on solar modules and cells as a policy measure to support domestic manufacturing. By adding duty to imported modules, the government narrows the price gap between overseas-made and Indian-made modules, encouraging buyers to source domestically and encouraging manufacturers to build capacity in India. Whatever your view on the policy, its practical effect for an importer is clear: it raises the cost of bringing foreign modules into the country.
How BCD affects landed cost
BCD is one of the largest single additions to the landed cost of an imported module. Recall that landed cost is the all-in delivered cost, product plus freight, insurance, duty and clearing. Because BCD is a percentage of the CIF value and that rate can be substantial, it can add a significant amount to the per-watt cost of imported modules. Any accurate import costing for India must include the current BCD, and it is often the line that most changes the economics of importing versus buying domestic.
Confirming the current rate
Solar duty policy in India has changed over time, so the BCD rate that applied a while ago may not be current. Before you cost an import or commit to an order, confirm the current BCD rate for your specific product, module or cell, with your customs broker, and cross-check against the latest customs tariff. Getting the current rate right is essential, because BCD materially affects whether and how an import makes financial sense, and an out-of-date figure can throw off your entire landed-cost calculation.
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