15 chapters — from the eight rule changes of 2026 to the twelve mistakes that cost the most
The Rules Changed in 2026
Eight changes between November 2025 and October 2026, with the notification behind each one — and what did not change.
What the First Shipment Really Costs
Government fees against market rates, the honest ₹8,000–₹15,000 minimum, and realistic timelines for each step.
Is Your Product Exportable
Four free checks before you spend anything: the 8-digit code, the export policy, SCOMET, and the destination's rules.
The Registration Stack, in Order
IEC, GST, LUT in Form GST RFD-11, ICEGATE and the AD Code — plus the name-match rule that saves you a week.
Choosing Your Export Channel
Sea cargo, courier, India Post, marketplaces and the Exporter-on-Record route that went live on 5 August 2026.
The HS Code That Survives Customs
Classification with the GRI, a worked example, the 1 May 2026 schedule realignment, and the note to keep.
The Six Documents and the Match Test
Every field that matters, and the seven things that must read identically across the whole set.
Incoterms and Pricing Your First Quote
EXW to DDP, why FOB wins on a first order, and the costing sheet with a full worked calculation.
Getting Paid, and the 15-Month Clock
Payment terms ranked by risk, the FEMA realisation rule, e-BRC reconciliation and the non-payment playbook.
GST on Exports Without Losing Money
LUT versus IGST, the five validations that block an automatic refund, and the two-year filing limit.
RoDTEP and Drawback, Before the Clock Runs Out
The complete 2026 timeline of notifications, how the scrip works, and the three schemes not to chase.
Finding Your First Ten Buyers
Six channels that produce enquiries, the first email that gets a reply, and what to send when it does.
Buyer Verification and the Scams
Twenty minutes of checks and the three patterns that cost first-timers a container.
The 30-Day Launch Plan
Thirty days mapped to day-level tasks, in the order the dependencies fall — plus a one-week version.
The Twelve Most Expensive Mistakes
What each one costs, and the fix. Eleven of the twelve are sequence errors, not knowledge gaps.
