USD 37.80·EUR 42.10

Doing business with India

India and Suriname have strong cultural ties, but trade is small and roughly balanced: in 2025 India bought USD 26 million from Suriname, mainly timber, and supplied USD 30 million. In March 2025 an Indian business mission visited Suriname.

Exports from Suriname (2025)
USD 26.5 million
Indian figures via UN Comtrade
Imports into Suriname (2025)
USD 30.1 million
Indian figures via UN Comtrade
Trade regime
No agreement
India's normal WTO rate
On this page (13)
In short
  • No trade agreement: India's tariffs are high for many products.
  • Suriname mainly supplies logs to India; India supplies electronics, steel, machinery and medicines.
  • India has had an embassy in Paramaribo since 1977, Suriname has an embassy in New Delhi.

Trade in figures

According to Indian figures (UN Comtrade), India bought USD 26.5 million from Suriname in 2025: timber (USD 19.4 million), iron and steel (USD 5.2 million) and aluminium (USD 1.1 million). India supplied USD 30.1 million to Suriname; in 2024 this was mainly electrical equipment, steel articles, machinery and medicines.

Amounts in US dollars. Because Suriname does not report most of its exports (gold) by country, we use the partner country's figures: its imports from Suriname are Suriname's exports, its exports to Suriname are Suriname's imports. Imports usually include freight and insurance (CIF) and exports do not (FOB), so the two sides always differ somewhat.

Trade agreements and duties

Suriname has no trade agreement with India. Surinamese goods pay India's normal tariff, which is high for many farm and food products. Imports from India pay the normal Surinamese import duty.

How rules of origin, certificates and preferential rates work is explained in Trade agreements and market access.

Market access in practice

Logs to India need a phytosanitary certificate and a pest treatment under India's quarantine rules; have the buyer confirm the current requirements. Food requires registration with India's food authority (FSSAI) through the importer. For sourcing, India is strong in generic medicines, machinery, textiles, IT services and farm machinery.

Transport and travel

There are no direct flights or liner services. Travellers go via Amsterdam or other European hubs. Containers are transhipped, often in Europe or the Caribbean.

Flights and sailing schedules change often. Check them with the airline or your forwarder before you plan. Shipping and logistics · Business trip to Suriname

Embassies and consulates

India has had an embassy in Paramaribo since 1977. Suriname has an embassy in New Delhi. The Indian embassy supports trade missions and provides information on Indian training programmes.

Addresses and opening hours of Suriname's missions are on the official site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: embassies.gov.sr.

Chambers, networks and support

From 5 to 12 March 2025 an Indian fact-finding business mission visited Suriname, looking for joint ventures in areas including agriculture, heavy machinery, banking, gold mining, e-health, education, timber, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, infrastructure and food processing. During the visit the SME association AKMOS signed an MoU with the World Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME). We could not confirm a Suriname-India chamber of commerce.

In Suriname, SITA (export and investment promotion), the KKF and EZOTI can help. Business organisations are listed in Business associations.

Diaspora

A large share of Surinamese have Indian (Hindustani) ancestry. That brings networks and trust, but the Indian market itself is large, competitive and price-sensitive. Doing business from the diaspora

Opportunities

  • Sourcing generic medicines, farm machinery and IT services from India.
  • Joint ventures with Indian companies in food and timber processing in Suriname.
  • Legally sourced timber, preferably processed rather than logs.

These are possibilities that fit the trade between the two countries, not a promise of customers. Test an idea first with conversations, samples and numbers. Market research

Watch out for

  • High Indian tariffs and strict quarantine rules: work out the benefit per product.
  • Quality differs widely between suppliers; ask for references and samples.

How to start

  1. Test the market. Look at the figures above to see what is already traded, and talk to at least three buyers or suppliers. Market research
  2. Determine the HS code and the tariff. Look up the import duty in the destination country, and whether you can get a preference. Trade agreements and market access
  3. Meet the requirements. Certificate of origin, phytosanitary or health certificate, label and any registration of your business. Exporting from Suriname
  4. Agree delivery and payment. Choose an Incoterm, a payment method (prepayment, L/C) and the currency. Accepting payments
  5. Work out the total cost. Freight, insurance, duties and margin. Price and markup · Import cost calculator
  6. Start with a trial shipment and keep all documents per shipment. Proforma invoice

Guides that help next

Other countries

Sources

Checked on 26 October 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice. Have tariffs and requirements confirmed per shipment.