Why first shipments go wrong
Almost never because of the freight. They go wrong because a registration was missing, a certificate could not be obtained retrospectively, or the payment terms turned out to mean something different from what the exporter assumed. All of it is knowable in advance, and almost none of it is obvious if you have not done it before.
This scorecard checks the fifteen things that actually determine whether a first shipment goes smoothly. It is deliberately blunt about which are blockers — things that stop you filing a shipping bill at all — and which are simply gaps you can close while the goods are in production.
The four that stop you completely
- Importer Exporter Code (IEC). Issued by DGFT against your PAN. Without it you cannot file a shipping bill. It is quick and cheap to obtain, and it is the single most common reason a first shipment stalls.
- AD code registration at your port. Your bank's authorised dealer code has to be registered at the specific port you are shipping from. Registered at Cochin does not mean registered at Vizhinjam. This catches people out constantly and cannot be fixed on the day.
- The right HS code. Everything downstream depends on it — duty, incentives, licensing, whether your buyer's country will even let it in. Guessing is expensive.
- Commodity registration. Spices Board, MPEDA, APEDA, FSSAI, Coir Board, AYUSH — depending on what you ship. Some take weeks. None can be arranged the day the container is loading.
The ones that cost money rather than time
Payment terms, credit insurance and costing are where margin quietly disappears. An exporter who has agreed open credit with an unknown overseas buyer, without ECGC cover, has taken a risk they usually have not priced. An exporter who quoted FOB without counting terminal handling and customs clearance has given away part of their margin without noticing.
Neither will stop your container leaving. Both will hurt.
Frequently asked
How do I know if I am ready to export from India?
You need, at minimum: an IEC from DGFT, GST registration with a letter of undertaking for zero-rated supply, your bank's AD code registered at the port you are shipping from, the correct HS classification for your product, and any commodity-specific registration your goods require. Beyond those, readiness is about whether you have agreed payment terms you can live with, priced the shipment including local charges, and lined up a customs broker. The scorecard above checks all fifteen.
What is an IEC and how long does it take?
The Importer Exporter Code is a business identifier issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade against your PAN. It is applied for online, the fee is modest, and it is typically issued within a few working days. You cannot file a shipping bill without one, so it is the first thing to sort out.
What is AD code registration and why does it matter?
Your bank issues an authorised dealer code, which must then be registered at each port you export from so that customs can link your shipping bill to the bank account receiving payment. It is port-specific — registration at Cochin does not cover Vizhinjam. It takes a few days and your CHA can arrange it, but not on the day the goods are at the gate.
Do I need GST registration to export?
In most cases yes, and you also want a letter of undertaking so you can export without paying IGST upfront and then reclaiming it. Without the LUT you either pay IGST and apply for a refund, which ties up working capital, or you export under bond. The LUT is filed on the GST portal and is the simpler route for most exporters.
Is this scorecard specific to Kerala?
The requirements it checks are national — they apply to any Indian exporter. What is Kerala-specific is the commodity list, the port options and the guidance in the action plan, which assumes you will ship through Cochin, Vizhinjam or one of the state's airports.
Guidance, not compliance advice. This scorecard reflects common requirements for Indian exporters as at September 2026. Requirements vary by commodity, destination and the scheme you export under, and they change. Timelines and costs mentioned in the action plan are indicative. Confirm current requirements with DGFT, your customs broker or the relevant commodity board before acting. Kerala Ports accepts no liability for decisions made on this assessment.
