The United States market for Indian hotel & restaurant supplies
USA: steel, aluminium and copper articles and listed derivatives pay Section 232 tariffs (copper semis 50% since 1 Aug 2025; an April 2026 proclamation modified how the metal 232 tariffs apply) - check whether the HTS line is on the derivative list before quoting. Non-232 lines pay MFN + 10% Section 301 (as of Oct 2026).
Indian community in United States (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 6,079,221 overseas Indians (PIO 3,767,737 + NRI 2,311,484) — largest PIO population worldwide.
Hotel & Restaurant Supplies specification for United States orders
| Parameter | Typical export value |
|---|---|
| Stainless steel | 304 / 18-10 for cutlery and buffet; 201 for budget lines (typical) |
| Copperware | Hammered copper with stainless or tin lining for food contact (typical) |
| Gastronorm | GN 1/1 to 1/9, depths 20-200 mm per EN 631 (typical) |
| Ceramics | Stoneware/porcelain, lead- and cadmium-safe glazes (typical) |
| Chafing dishes | 6-9 L, fuel or electric, roll-top or lift-top (typical) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the United States requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in United States
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | FDA | Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent |
| Advance notice of each shipment | FDA | Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air) |
| Importer supplier verification | FDA (FSMA) | FSVP by the US importer |
| Process filing | FDA | FCE registration + SID process filing |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping hotel & restaurant supplies to United States
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → New York / New Jersey: 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days. India-USEC services route via Suez/Med when open; FDA prior notice >=8h before arrival by sea
Supply window: Indian hotel & restaurant supplies is mainly produced or harvested Year-round; Year-round; hotel pre-opening & renovation cycles. Allow 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and United States customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' ~25-30 cbm, 40' HC ~60-68 cbm (volume-limited).
Quoted on FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP; CIF New York / New Jersey is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in United States
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | Port of New York and New Jersey (Newark/Elizabeth, Staten Island, Red Hook) · John F. Kenn | HORECA, Indian diaspora grocery & spice distributors, apparel/home-textile importers |
| Houston | Port Houston (Bayport & Barbours Cut container terminals) · George Bush Intercontinental ( | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants, oilfield & engineering goods buyers (pipes, valves |
| Dallas | Houston, inland (also rail from LA/Long Beach via DFW intermodal) · Dallas/Fort Worth Inte | apparel & home-textile wholesale (Dallas Market Center), Indian diaspora grocers (large Telugu/Gujarati community), IT services |
| Atlanta | Savannah (Georgia Ports Authority), inland ~400 km · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internatio | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurant supply (large Gujarati community), engineering goods for Southeast distribution, home-textile/carpet trade |
| Miami | PortMiami; Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) · Miami International (MIA) - top US internat | HORECA, Latin America re-export distributors, pharma/generics for LatAm |
| Newark-Edison, New Jersey | Port Newark-Elizabeth (Port of NY/NJ) - largest East Coast container port · Newark Liberty | Indian diaspora grocery/spice wholesalers (largest South Asian hub in US), pharma/generics & API buyers, apparel & home-textile importers |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import hotel & restaurant supplies into United States?
Key requirements: Facility registration — FDA (Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent); Advance notice of each shipment — FDA (Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air)); Importer supplier verification — FDA (FSMA) (FSVP by the US importer); Process filing — FDA (FCE registration + SID process filing). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to United States take?
Typically 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to New York / New Jersey, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does United States have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA; BTA under negotiation (talks 1–4 Jun 2026) [S7]. Tariff on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026: MFN + 10% Section 301 (from 24 Jul 2026), or the Section 232 rate for steel/aluminium/autos/copper; IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court 20 Feb 2026 — verify weekly [06 §C.3] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to hotel & restaurant supplies from India?
Usually HS 732393. United States applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
Is copper serveware safe for food?
Only when lined with stainless steel or tin on food-contact surfaces. Unlined copper is decorative.
Can you supply a complete hotel F&B package?
Yes. Buffet ware, serveware, cutlery, crockery and glassware from different clusters, consolidated into one shipment.
Do you meet gastronorm sizes?
Yes, GN pans in standard EN 631 sizes and depths.
Related guides
Request a quote: hotel & restaurant supplies to United States
Tell us grade, quantity and your port in United States. We quote CIF/CFR with the destination documents listed above.