7 Chemicals Hit Hard! India Strikes Back with Anti-Dumping Duties

India has taken an important step to guard domestic producers against unfair trade by implementing anti-dumping duty on seven industrial chemicals, mainly imported from China, after a comprehensive investigation performed by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) confirmed these industrial chemicals were being dumped in the Indian markets at unfairly low prices and causing material injury to domestic producers.

The duties are being enforced by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) through different notifications, and the levy takes effect for five years. The duties are being enforced by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) through different notifications, and the levy takes effect for five years.

Chemicals and Duty Imposed

• Potassium Tertiary Butoxide: Used as a catalyst in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Duty of up to $1,710 per metric tonne on imports from China and the US.
• Sodium Tertiary Butoxide: Used in similar applications as Potassium Tertiary Butoxide. Duty imposed on imports from China.
• Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB): Used in the production of detergents, dyes, and electroplating. Duty of up to $62 per tonne on imports from Iran and Qatar.
• PEDA: A chemical used in herbicides. Duty ranging from $1,305.6 to $2,017.9 per tonne on Chinese imports.
• Acetonitrile: A solvent used in the pharmaceutical sector. Duty of up to $481 per tonne on imports from China, Russia, and Taiwan.
• Vitamin A Palmitate: Used in food and pharmaceutical applications. Duty of up to $20.87 per kilogram on imports from China, the European Union, and Switzerland.
• Insoluble Sulphur: Essential for rubber vulcanization in the tyre industry. Duty up to $358 per tonne on imports from China and Japan.

The Trade Authority of India concluded that these products were being sold at less than normal value, causing injury to the domestic industry through price depression and loss of market share. The anti-dumping duties are so that imports are limited to products that are sold at fair prices and, in turn, protect local suppliers.

The measure also reflects ongoing efforts of India to diminish reliance on foreign chemical imports, especially from China, with which India had a trade deficit of over $99 billion in 2024-25.