India hits China, Japan and EU with fresh anti-dumping duties on vitamin and rubber chemical imports

The Indian government has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Vitamin-A Palmitate and Insoluble Sulphur from China, Japan, Switzerland and the European Union (EU). The move aims to protect domestic manufacturers from low-priced imports that affect the local industry.

The duties, which will remain in place for five years, were announced by the finance ministry in a notification issued late on Friday. The decision follows investigations by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which found that both substances were being exported to India at unfairly low prices, either below cost or under their fair market value, thereby undercutting Indian producers.

Both products are essential to major industries in India. Vitamin-A Palmitate is used in pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics, while Insoluble Sulphur plays a key role in tyre manufacturing.

In its findings, the DGTR said there was “material injury” to domestic producers of Vitamin-A Palmitate due to large-scale dumping from China, the EU and Switzerland. The compound, commonly used in small quantities, remains heavily import-dependent in India.

The duties, which take effect immediately, will range from $0.87 to $20.87 per kilogram. Chinese exporters other than Shangyu NHU BioChem Co. Ltd. will face the highest duty of $20.87/kg. Shangyu NHU BioChem will be subject to a lower duty of $14.95/kg. Swiss company DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. will attract a duty of $0.87/kg, while all other Swiss exporters will face $8.2/kg. Imports from the EU will be charged a flat rate of $11.09/kg.

However, Vitamin-A Palmitate in the strength of 1.6 MIU/Gm, used in animal feed, has been excluded from the duty.

India imported $48.6 million worth of Vitamin-A Palmitate in the financial year 2024-25, with most of it sourced from China and Europe, according to commerce ministry data.

The duties must be paid in Indian rupees, based on the exchange rate notified by the Revenue Department on the date the bill of entry is filed.

In a related move, the government also imposed five-year anti-dumping duties on imports of Insoluble Sulphur from China and Japan. This compound is mainly used by tyre manufacturers to improve rubber vulcanisation.

DGTR investigations revealed that exporters from both countries had been dumping the product at low prices, affecting the profitability and pricing strength of Indian producers.

Depending on the exporter, the duties on Insoluble Sulphur will range from $259 to $358 per metric tonne. Chinese imports will face a flat duty of $307/MT. Among Japanese companies, Shikoku Chemicals will be charged $259/MT, while all other Japanese exporters will face the maximum rate of $358/MT.