India permits e-commerce inventory holdings exclusively for exports

The Finance Ministry has notified FDI rules allowing e-commerce entities to hold inventory only for exporting India-manufactured goods. Inventory-led domestic B2C e-commerce remains prohibited, maintaining the marketplace model requirement for local sales.

— Source publishedFri, 4 Sept, 2026, 10:02 IST·First seen Fri, 4 Sept, 2026, 10:15 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

Department of Economic Affairs, Finance Ministry · Finance Ministry notified FDI rules allowing e-commerce entities to hold inventory solely to export

Key facts

  • September 2
  • Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019
  • Foreign Trade Policy 2023
  • Foreign Exchange Management (Export of Goods & Services) Regulations, 2015

Why this matters

Prioritize partnerships or acquisitions in Indian manufacturing, export fulfillment, and cross-border commerce, as domestic inventory-led roll-ups remain restricted.