New Delhi, Feb. 26 -- The Revenue Department is set to introduce a 30-day customs duty deferral facility for eligible manufacturer-importers from next month to improve liquidity and ease working capital pressures.

Eligible manufacturer-importers under the new facility will be able to clear imported goods immediately and pay customs duty within 30 days, improving capital availability for manufacturing and exports, news agency PTI reported.

In the Union Budget 2026-27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed extending to eligible manufacturer-importers the same duty deferral benefit currently available to Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs). The measure is also intended to encourage importers to obtain Tier 3 AEO accreditation.

The...