Exim Bank's USD 55 Million Credit Line to Sri Lanka for Urea
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-2023/84 · issued 07 Jul 2022 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI notifies AD Category-I banks about Exim Bank's USD 55 million Government of India-supported Short-Term Line of Credit to Sri Lanka for urea fertilizer imports from India, effective June 20, 2022, with a 6-month utilization period extendable up to 12 months.
The rule, in the simplest words
Exim Bank gave a $55 million loan to Sri Lanka's government to buy urea fertilizer from India.
Banks must make sure every shipment under this loan is reported on special forms (Export Declaration Form or Shipping Bill).
Exporters cannot pay any agent fee (agency commission) for these exports, but if they must, they can use their own money or foreign currency account after getting full payment.
The loan can be used for 6 months starting June 20, 2022, and can be extended up to 12 months.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, gets a call from a urea exporter asking about the new Sri Lanka credit line. She explains that all shipments must be declared on Export Declaration Forms and that no agency commission is allowed, but if needed, the exporter can pay commission from his own funds after the full export value is received. She then directs him to Exim Bank for the full details.
What changed
Exim Bank signed an agreement on June 10, 2022, with Sri Lanka's government for a USD 55 million Short-Term Line of Credit (STLoC) backed by the Government of India. The credit is specifically for financing the procurement of urea fertilizer from India, with the agreement effective from June 20, 2022.
What it means for you
AD Category-I banks must facilitate exports under this STLoC by ensuring shipments are declared on Export Declaration Forms or Shipping Bills as per RBI instructions. No agency commission is payable, but exporters can use own resources or EEFC balances for commission in free foreign exchange after full export value realization.
What you must do
Inform exporter constituents about the STLoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Allow remittance of agency commission only after full export value realization and compliance with extant instructions.
Ensure all shipments under the STLoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms or Shipping Bills as per RBI guidelines.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Exporters of urea fertilizer to Sri Lanka, Exim Bank
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Stated effective dateeffective June 20, 2022
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 05:53 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the purpose of this USD 55 million credit line?
It is a Government of India-supported Short-Term Line of Credit from Exim Bank to Sri Lanka for financing the procurement of urea fertilizer from India.
What is the utilization period for this credit line?
The terminal utilization period is 6 months from the agreement date (June 20, 2022), extendable up to 12 months with Exim Bank's consent.
Can exporters pay agency commission under this STLoC?
No agency commission is payable, but exporters may use own resources or EEFC balances to pay commission in free foreign exchange after full export value realization, subject to RBI instructions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2022-2023/84
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 06
July 07, 2022
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir
Exim Bank's Government of India supported Short - Term Line of Credit (STLoC)
of USD 55 million to the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka for procurement of urea fertilizer from India
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated June 10, 2022 with the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Short - Term Line of Credit (STLoC) of USD 55 million (USD Fifty Five Million only) for financing of procurement of urea fertilizer from India. Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this agreement.
2. The Agreement under the STLoC is effective from June 20, 2022. Under the STLoC, the terminal utilization period is 6 months from the date of signing the agreement or such other extended date which EXIM Bank may agree at the request of the borrower, provided however that such extended date shall in no case be beyond 12 months from the date of agreement.
3. Shipments under the STLoC shall be declared in Export Declaration Form/ Shipping Bill as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
4. No agency commission is payable for export under the above STLoC. However, if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances in his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account for payment of commission in free foreign exchange. Authorised Dealer (AD) Category - I banks may allow such remittance after realization of full eligible value of export subject to compliance with the extant instructions for payment of agency commission.
5. AD Category – I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents and advise them to obtain complete details of the STLoC from the Exim Bank’s office at Centre One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 or from their website www.eximbankindia.in .
6. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under section 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/ approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully
(Vivek Srivastava)
Chief General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2022-2023/84 · issued 07 Jul 2022. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Exporters of urea fertilizer to Sri Lanka, Exim Bank), your first concrete step on “Exim Bank's USD 55 Million Credit Line to Sri Lanka for Urea” is: “Inform exporter constituents about the STLoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.” (RBI issued this 07 Jul 2022).
Circular: RBI/2022-2023/84 -- Exim Bank's USD 55 Million Credit Line to Sri Lanka for Urea
Issued: 07 Jul 2022
Action required: Inform exporter constituents about the STLoC and direct them to Exim Bank for full details.
Action required: Allow remittance of agency commission only after full export value realization and compliance with extant instructions.
Action required: Ensure all shipments under the STLoC are declared on Export Declaration Forms or Shipping Bills as per RBI guidelines.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=12352&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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