India is expanding the global reach of its postal export services, adding 50 new countries across Africa, Europe, Central Asia and West Asia to India Post’s International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) to help domestic small businesses and online sellers push goods into markets beyond the United States.
The move comes amid growing challenges for Indian exporters caused by steeper U.S. import tariffs on Indian goods, which have made shipments to the American market more expensive and less competitive. In response, policymakers and trade bodies are prioritising market diversification to cushion the impact of tariff-induced demand softening.
Under the amended ITPS framework, destinations such as Algeria, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Papua New Guinea and Zambia have been added, bringing the total number of serviceable countries to 135. Affordable tracked parcel shipping through India Post is expected to open up new e-commerce corridors for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and artisans, especially in regions where traditional courier costs have been a barrier.
Trade experts say strengthening low-cost logistics and widening market access will be critical for scaling India’s cross-border e-commerce exports, particularly at a time when U.S. tariffs have weakened demand for certain Indian products. They argue that postal-led export options and targeted support could allow smaller sellers to compete globally without heavy overheads.
The export push aligns with broader government plans to relax certain e-commerce regulations for export purposes and potentially allow more flexible foreign direct investment in inventory-based online retail models tailored for overseas sales.
Industry stakeholders also point to upcoming initiatives such as e-commerce export hubs and partnerships with private logistics firms that are designed to enhance last-mile delivery, customs efficiency and fulfilment services for cross-border trade — all part of a strategy to reduce India’s dependence on traditional destination markets like the U.S. and fortify its global e-commerce footprint.
