Budget 2025 - Key changes announced in Customs duties

[CSSwati Rawat]

Key changes announced in Customs duties and exemptions - Budget 25 

What's Getting Cheaper?

Life-Saving Drugs - 36 essential medicines will be exempt fully from Basic Customs Duty (BCD).

Critical Minerals - 12 more critical minerals, including cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste, lead, and zinc, to be exempt from Basic Customs Duty.

Shipbuilding - Basic Customs Duty exemption for ships and their parts extended for 10 more years.

Ethernet Switches - Basic custom duty on Carrier Grade Ethernet switches reduced from 20% to 10%, matching them with non-Carrier Grade switches.

EV & Mobile Battery Manufacturing - 35 additional goods for EV battery production and 28 for mobile phone battery manufacturing added to the BCD exemption list.

Open-Cell Displays - Reduction of custom duty to 5%.

Fish & Seafood - Customs duty on fish paste reduced from 30% to 5%. Tax levied on Frozen fish at 5%, down from 30%. Fish hydrolysates duties cut from 15% to 5%.

Leather - Wet blue leather is now fully exempt from duties.

What's Getting Costlier?

Flat Panel Displays - Basic custom duty increased from 10% to 20%, impacting TVs and mobile phones.

Social Welfare Surcharge - Removal of exemption on 82 tariff lines at presently under cess.