BT Exporting to Bhutan
Bagasse Tableware Supplier for Bhutan, Delivered from India
Pulpcraft supplies hotels, tour operators, institutional caterers, wholesalers and retailers across Bhutan with compostable sugarcane bagasse tableware made in India. Bhutan is the most frictionless export market in the region for an Indian manufacturer: the India Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit provides a free trade regime, bilateral trade is settled in Indian rupees at par with the ngultrum, and consignments move by road through Phuentsholing rather than by sea. There is no customs duty to price in and no container to wait for.
Bhutan export snapshot
A plastic-restricted market with almost no local production
Bhutan banned plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and ice cream pouches as far back as 1999, and reinforced the ban nationwide from 1 April 2019 with fines and the threat of licence cancellation for repeat offenders. Enforcement has been uneven and the policy has struggled to keep pace with modern consumption, which is precisely why the practical pressure now falls on the buyers most visible to regulators and to guests: hotels, tour operators, government functions and institutional catering.
| When | Measure | What it means for buyers |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | National Environment Commission notification bans plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and ice cream pouches | Bhutan becomes one of the earliest movers on plastic restriction |
| 1 April 2019 | Ban reinforced nationwide with fines of Nu 500 for a first offence and Nu 1,000 for a second, and licence cancellation thereafter | Commercial operators carry real compliance risk |
| Ongoing | Enforcement acknowledged as inconsistent, with policy under review | Buyers who move first protect themselves from the next tightening |
| Ongoing | Tourism policy oriented to high-value, low-volume visitors with a strong sustainability positioning | Hotels and tour operators are held to a visible environmental standard |
What this means if you are sourcing
- Almost everything Bhutan consumes is imported, and the overwhelming majority of it comes through India.
- Local production of eco-tableware is minimal: a small areca leaf unit in Gelephu producing in the order of a couple of thousand pieces a day.
- Food imported commercially requires an import permit from the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, and food must enter through an officially designated entry point. Only a short list of commodities is currently under specific import regulation, so food-contact tableware is a low-friction category.
- Volumes are modest by regional standards. Treat Bhutan as a steady, low-effort account rather than a campaign-scale market.
Why Bhutan is the simplest export lane we run
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customs classification | HS 4823.70, moulded or pressed articles of paper pulp |
| Trade agreement | The India Bhutan Agreement on Trade, Commerce and Transit, first signed in 1972 and most recently revised in 2016, establishes a free trade regime between the two countries |
| Duty | Indian-origin goods move under the free trade regime, so there is no bilateral customs duty to price into your landed cost |
| Currency and payment | Bilateral trade is conducted in Indian rupees, which are at par with the ngultrum, so there is no forex conversion or exposure |
| Main entry point | Phuentsholing, opposite Jaigaon in West Bengal, handles the majority of bilateral commerce |
| Food contact | SGS food-safety test reports plus ISO 22000 certification, available for any BFDA or BAFRA requirement |
The commercial upshot is that a Bhutanese buyer gets close to Indian domestic pricing and Indian domestic lead times, with none of the letter-of-credit and container-scheduling overhead of a sea shipment.
How consignments reach Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Gelephu
Everything is manufactured at our plant in Kaimur, Bihar and exported to you. There is no local warehouse and no local agent margin: you buy factory-direct, which keeps pricing keen and quality traceable to a single production line.
| Lane | From | To | Indicative transit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary road route | Kaimur plant, Bihar | Phuentsholing via Jaigaon | A few days by truck | Most consignments, onward distribution to Thimphu and Paro |
| Southern entry | Kaimur plant, Bihar | Gelephu | A few days by truck | Central and southern Bhutan, including Gelephu area projects |
| Eastern entry | Kaimur plant, Bihar | Samdrup Jongkhar | Longer, route dependent | Eastern dzongkhags |
Phuentsholing and Jaigaon are separated by a gate, and the vast majority of Bhutan imports and exports pass through that crossing. Because the route is road-based, you are not tied to a container size: we can quote part loads for regular restocking as well as full truck loads.
Ports and transit
Transit times shown are indicative and vary by carrier, season and transhipment. The exact load port, vessel and ETA are confirmed on your proforma invoice.
Documentation
Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, certificate of origin and SGS test reports, classified under HS 4823.70 for a clean clearance.
Order flexibility
Start with an LCL trial load or move straight to full container volume. Mixed products in one consignment and private-label runs are both standard for us.
Bagasse tableware we export to Bhutan
Our full moulded bagasse range, with the dimensions and unit weights published on each product page. Every item is plastic-free sugarcane fibre, microwave and refrigerator safe, and suitable for hot and oily food. Browse the bagasse plates range or the complete product catalogue.
| Product | Category | Size | Unit weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 inch Triangle Plate | Plates | 132 x 120 mm | 3.5 g | Snacks, chaat, canape and sampling service |
| 6 inch Deep Round Plate | Plates | 150 x 150 x 25 mm | 7 g | Side dishes, desserts, breakfast portions |
| 7 inch Deep Round Plate | Plates | 175 x 175 x 25 mm | 8 g | Curries and gravy dishes, staff canteens |
| 9 inch Round Plate | Plates | 225 x 225 x 18.5 mm | 14 g | Everyday main course, QSR and takeaway |
| 10 inch Round Plate | Plates | 250 x 250 x 22 mm | 19 g | Full meals, buffet and banquet service |
| 11 inch Round Plate | Plates | 278 x 278 x 24.5 mm | 21 g | Large plated meals, wedding and event catering |
| 12 inch Round Plate | Plates | 305 x 305 x 24.5 mm | 25 g | Sharing platters, large-format catering |
| 10 inch 3 Compartment Plate | Plates | 250 x 250 x 22 mm | 19 g | Rice plus two sides, canteen and thali service |
| 11 inch 4 Compartment Plate | Plates | 278 x 278 x 24.5 mm | 22 g | Four-part meals, institutional catering |
| 12 inch 4 Compartment Plate | Plates | 305 x 305 x 24.5 mm | 26 g | Large four-part meals, hospital and factory canteens |
| 120 ml Kiwi Bowl | Bowls | Depth 35 mm | 4.5 g | Chutneys, dips, sauces and condiments |
| 150 ml Square Bowl | Bowls | 102 x 102 x 30 mm | 5 g | Sides, sauces, dessert portions |
| 180 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 100 x 100 x 45 mm | 5 g | Soups, curries, yoghurt and sweets |
| 240 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 110 x 110 x 45.5 mm | 6 g | Noodles, rice bowls, hot soups |
| 360 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 140 x 140 x 40 mm | 9 g | Main-course bowls, delivery and cloud kitchens |
| 2 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 200 x 130 mm | 8 g | Two-item takeaway, snack combos |
| 3 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 225 x 180 mm | 13 g | Lunch boxes, delivery meals, airline-style service |
| 5 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 300 x 245 x 34 mm | 35 g | Full thali service, canteens, mass catering |
Carton contents, case dimensions and pallet configuration are confirmed on the proforma invoice for the sizes you select. Custom sizes and private-label embossing are available on production runs.
Standards, testing and the paperwork behind every shipment
Our Indian manufacturing is backed by internationally recognised management systems and independent laboratory testing, so your compliance file starts on solid ground rather than with a supplier declaration. You can read more about the plant and its certifications on our about page.
The document set that travels with a Bhutan consignment
| Document | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Base documents at the entry point |
| Transport document | Truck receipt or consignment note for the road leg |
| Certificate of origin | Confirms Indian origin under the bilateral trade agreement |
| SGS food-safety test reports | Evidence the tableware is safe for direct food contact |
| ISO certificates | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000 from the manufacturing plant |
| Product and packing specification | Sizes, unit weights and carton contents for your store |
Who we supply in Bhutan
The same range serves very different operations. If your use case is not listed, it is almost certainly still a fit, and our industries served page covers the wider picture.
Hotels, resorts and tour operators
Properties serving a high-value tourism market where visible plastic-free service is part of the offer, across packed lunches, trekking catering and banqueting.
Government and monastic functions
Large public gatherings, festivals and official events where procurement leans firmly towards eco-friendly disposables.
Schools, hostels and institutional canteens
Compartment plates and 5 compartment trays for daily feeding programmes at predictable cost.
Wholesalers and retailers
Thimphu and Phuentsholing distributors who want a compliant disposable range without importing from beyond India.
Restaurants and cafes
Independent operators in the main towns replacing plastic and foam service ware for takeaway and delivery.
Event and construction site catering
Bulk feeding for large projects and public works, where trays and deep plates do the heavy lifting.
A small market, worth doing properly
Bhutan will never be a container-a-week market. It is a small population with modest foodservice volume. What it is, is easy: free trade, rupee settlement, road delivery and a procurement culture that genuinely prefers the sustainable option rather than merely tolerating it.
For a Bhutanese buyer the practical question is not whether to import from India, since almost everything already comes that way, but whether the Indian supplier can be relied on for consistent specification and steady restocking. That is where a certified manufacturer beats a trader: same mould, same fibre, same wall thickness every time.
Pulpcraft manufactures under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000, with SGS food-safety testing on finished product, from a plant in Kaimur, Bihar. We quote part loads as readily as full loads, which is what a market this size actually needs.
From enquiry to delivered consignment
Tell us the products, sizes, approximate volume and your destination port or town in Bhutan. A photo of what you buy today is enough to start.
We confirm the specification, the load port, the routing, the lead time and the document set, with pricing on your chosen Incoterm.
Samples are couriered so you can check wall thickness, rigidity and how the item behaves with your own food before you commit.
Your order is moulded on a certified line, inspected and packed to the case specification agreed on the proforma invoice.
The consignment moves on the agreed lane and the full document set follows so your clearing agent in Bhutan has everything in hand.
Guides for Bhutan buyers
Bhutan export questions, answered
Is there customs duty on Indian bagasse tableware entering Bhutan?
Can we pay in Indian rupees?
How do goods actually reach Bhutan from your plant?
Do we need an import permit for tableware?
Is there a minimum order for Bhutan?
Can you match the sizes we currently buy?
Do you supply eco-friendly tableware for large public events?
We export bagasse tableware worldwide
Get an export quote for Bhutan
Tell us your products, quantities and destination. We will send a factory-direct quotation with lead time, routing and the full documentation set for Bhutan import.