PIMS Certificate — Paper Import Monitoring System | ISLF

The Paper Import Monitoring System (PIMS) was introduced by the Government of India in 2020 to monitor imports of paper and paperboard products under Chapter 48 of the ITC(HS) classification. PIMS is not a restriction on imports — it is a monitoring mechanism that collects data on paper import quantities, origins, and values to inform government policy on the domestic paper industry and potential trade remedies (anti-dumping duties, safeguard duties).

PIMS registration is mandatory for all importers of Chapter 48 products — paper, paperboard, coated and uncoated, writing and printing paper, kraft paper, newsprint, tissue, and other paper-based products. The PIMS registration number must be mentioned in the Bill of Entry filed for customs clearance. Without a valid PIMS registration and the PIMS reference number in the BoE, customs clearance of paper imports is refused — causing potentially significant cargo detention delays at the port of entry.

The importance of PIMS compliance has grown with India's active anti-dumping duty investigations on various paper product categories — coated paper from China, Indonesia, and Thailand, and newsprint from multiple origins. Companies that do not maintain proper PIMS records are at a disadvantage if they later want to participate in anti-dumping duty exclusion petitions or safeguard duty proceedings that could reduce their duty burden on paper imports.

PIMS registration is done on the DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) under the PIMS module. The registration requires the applicant's IEC, GSTIN, and company details, along with details of the paper products intended for import (HS codes, product descriptions, annual import quantity estimates). Registration is typically processed within a few working days and results in a PIMS registration number that must be renewed annually.

Each import shipment of Chapter 48 products requires a separate PIMS transaction entry — specifying the bill of entry details, shipment quantity, origin country, value, and port of import. This transaction entry generates a PIMS reference number (specific to each shipment) that is declared in the Bill of Entry. Importers must also file quarterly PIMS data reports summarizing all imports made during the quarter — this is the data that DGFT uses for policy analysis.

ISLF manages the complete PIMS compliance lifecycle for paper and paperboard importers: initial registration on the DGFT portal, shipment-level PIMS transaction entries (before each Bill of Entry is filed), PIMS reference number communication to the customs team for BoE inclusion, quarterly report filing, and annual registration renewal. Our systematic approach ensures that PIMS compliance never becomes a bottleneck in the customs clearance process.

India's paper import sector is frequently subject to anti-dumping investigations initiated by domestic paper manufacturers. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) investigates these complaints and may recommend anti-dumping duties (ADs) on specific paper categories from specific countries. For importers, understanding when ADs apply, when producer-specific exclusions are available, and how to petition for new shipper reviews or refunds of provisional ADs requires specialized knowledge that ISLF provides.

ISLF's paper import services combine PIMS compliance management with broader customs consultancy — helping importers identify the correct HS code for their specific paper products (which determines the applicable duty rate and AD status), verify whether their supplier holds an anti-dumping duty exclusion order, and structure their import transactions to minimize total duty burden within the bounds of applicable law.

For paper importers entering the Indian market for the first time, ISLF provides a comprehensive compliance onboarding service — covering PIMS registration, IEC setup (if not already done), BIS certification (if applicable for the specific paper type), LMPC compliance (for packaged paper reams sold to end consumers), and customs duty structure analysis. Contact ISLF's team to begin your paper import compliance assessment.