India bans import of certain jute products from Bangladesh

Why in news ?

The Government of India has issued an important notification through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposing a complete ban on the import of certain jute products and ropes from Bangladesh by land route. Now these products will be imported only from Nhava Sheva port in Maharashtra.

Key Points:

• 27 June 2025:
  • India had banned the import of jute products and knitwear from Bangladesh by all land routes, but sea route remained allowed.
• New notification of August 2025:
  • Making the ban more stringent, it was made clear that certain special jute products will now be imported only from Nhava Sheva, not at all by land route.
• Ban on:
  • Jute fabric
  • Jute twine, cord, rope
  • Jute sacks and bags
• Government objective
  • To prevent deterioration in quality and standard violations of imported jute products.
  • To protect Indian jute producers from cheap and low quality foreign products.

Context of India-Bangladesh Jute Trade

• Jute is called ‘Golden Fibre’ and it is part of the shared agro-industrial history of India-Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh is the largest exporter of jute products in the world and India is a major importer of it.
• Jute products imported from Bangladesh are used in packaging, agriculture and construction sectors of India.
• India has previously imposed restrictions on Bangladeshi jute products over quality and dumping issues (such as anti-dumping duty in 2017).