India notifies export-only inventory rules for foreign-funded e-commerce firms

The Commerce Ministry has notified procedures allowing eligible foreign-funded e-commerce companies to hold inventory exclusively for cross-border exports, with rules covering exporter-on-record registration, inventory controls, seller visibility, returns, compliance certification and dispute resolution.

— Filed Thu, 6 Aug, 2026, 09:48 IST · Source ET Retail · Updated

The Commerce Ministry has notified procedures enabling eligible foreign-funded e-commerce companies to hold inventory solely for cross-border exports, covering exporter-on-record registration, inventory management, seller visibility, reverse logistics, compliance certification and dispute resolution.

Why this matters

The notification advances DGFT’s recent export e-commerce push, following clearance for inventory-led marketplaces to source Indian goods for exports and operational guidance for Indian sellers.

Retail-company signals are accelerating, up 165211% QoQ.