THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 26, 2026

The Department of Commerce has extended the RELIEF initiative, aimed at cushioning Indian exporters against geopolitical disruptions and rising maritime logistics costs, until March 31, 2027, with its second component offering 95 per cent risk coverage to encourage exporters to obtain insurance cover for shipments to specified regions.

The extension under Component II of RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation), a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), comes amid continuing geopolitical disruptions in West Asia and their impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf and adjoining regions.

The extension was notified through Notification No. 37/2026-27 dated September 30, 2026.

Under Component II, exporters can avail themselves of 95 per cent risk coverage for Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) cover on upcoming shipments to specified regions. The benefit applies to standalone policies and whole turnover policies obtained on or after March 16, 2026.

The initiative also protects eligible exporters against increases in insurance premiums beyond pre-disruption levels during the eligible period, providing a measure of relief from heightened costs and risks associated with shipping disruptions.

The coverage extends to full container load (FCL), less than container load (LCL) and refrigerated (reefer) containers, while energy shipments have been excluded from its ambit.

Exporters seeking benefits under the initiative are required to submit claims along with supporting documents through the ECGC customer portal. Guidance on generating user IDs and passwords, completing exporter registration and filing claims is available through dedicated video tutorials on ECGC's official YouTube channel, @ecgcltd7016.

Launched on March 19, 2026, RELIEF seeks to support Indian exporters grappling with extraordinary increases in freight costs, higher insurance premiums and war-related export risks arising from disruptions in the Gulf and the wider West Asian maritime corridor.

The extension is expected to provide continued support to eligible exporters navigating persistent uncertainty in shipping routes and logistics costs, while encouraging greater adoption of export credit insurance to manage risks associated with international trade.

The move underscores the government's focus on strengthening export resilience, sustaining trade flows and mitigating the impact of geopolitical instability on India's overseas shipments.