The Reserve Bank of India issued Trade Relief Measures Directions, 2026 to address challenges faced by exporters due to geopolitical tensions and logistical disruptions, particularly arising from the West Asia crisis. The RBI confirmed continuation of the earlier relaxation extending the time for realisation and repatriation of export proceeds from nine months to fifteen months. Additionally, the enhanced export credit period for both pre-shipment and post-shipment credit has been extended to 450 days for disbursals made up to June 30, 2026. The Directions, issued under statutory powers, apply to banks, cooperative institutions, NBFC factors, and financial institutions involved in export financing. Further, regulated entities are permitted to allow liquidation of packing credit from alternative sources in cases where exports could not be executed. These measures aim to ease debt servicing burdens, provide operational flexibility, and ensure continuity of viable export businesses amid ongoing global uncertainties.
Reserve Bank of India
March 31, 2026
Trade Relief Measures for Exporters
Due to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and logistical disruptions, Reserve Bank of India has been receiving representations from various stakeholders regarding challenges in adhering to the timelines for realisation of export proceeds.
In this regard, Reserve Bank, vide Press Release No. 2025-2026/1510 dated November 14, 2025, had advised extension in the time period for realisation and repatriation of full export value of goods/software/services exported from India from nine months to fifteen months from the date of export from India. It is clarified that the above relaxations shall continue to remain in force. Exporters may continue to avail the facility in accordance with the conditions stipulated therein.
Additionally, as part of the above measures, the period for realisation of both pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit was enhanced to 450 days, for disbursals made till March 31, 2026. Given the continuing logistical disruptions due to the West Asia crisis, it has been decided to extend the enhanced export credit period of 450 days for all disbursals made till June 30, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India (Trade Relief Measures) Directions, 2026 are, accordingly, being issued today.
Reserve Bank shall continue to monitor the situation closely and intervene in most appropriate manner, as and when required.
Press Release: 2025-2026/2362
(Brij Raj)
Chief General Manager
Reserve Bank of India
RBI/2025-26/263
DOR.STR.REC.No.455/21.04.048/2025-26 | Dated: March 31, 2026
Reserve Bank of India (Trade Relief Measures) Directions, 2026
1. Reserve Bank is statutorily mandated to operate the credit system of the country to its advantage. In this endeavour, and with a view to mitigating the burden of debt servicing brought about by geopolitical tensions caused by West Asian crisis and to ensure the continuity of viable businesses, Reserve Bank being satisfied that it is necessary and expedient in the public interest to do so, issues these Directions hereinafter specified.
2. These Directions are being issued in exercise of powers conferred by sections 21, 35A and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, sections 45JA, 45L and 45M of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and section 6 of the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011.
Short Title and Commencement
3. These Directions shall be called the Reserve Bank of India (Trade Relief Measures) Directions, 2026.
4. These Directions shall come into force immediately.
Applicability
5. These Directions shall be applicable to the following regulated entities (REs) eligible to undertake export financing business:
i. Commercial Banks
ii. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, State Co-operative Banks and Central Co-operative Banks
iii. Non-Banking Financial Companies – Factors
iv. All-India Financial Institutions
Extension of tenor for Export Credit
6. A RE may permit an enhanced credit period of up to 450 days for pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit disbursed till June 30, 2026.
7. In respect of packing credit facilities already availed by exporters on or before the date of issuance of these Directions, where dispatch of goods could not take place, a RE may allow liquidation of such facilities from any legitimate alternate sources, including domestic sale proceeds of such goods or substitution of contract with proceeds of another export order.
Yours faithfully,
(Vaibhav Chaturvedi)
Chief General Manager
