The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 7, 2025
In a decisive move to protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices, the Indian government has slapped anti-dumping duties on the import of Vitamin-A Palmitate and insoluble sulphur — two key industrial chemicals — sourced from China, Japan, Switzerland, and the European Union. The Ministry of Finance issued a notification on June 6, confirming that the duties will remain in force for five years unless withdrawn or revised earlier.
This policy action follows a detailed investigation by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which found that exporters from the aforementioned countries were offloading goods in the Indian market at prices significantly below their fair value. The investigation concluded that such dumping practices were causing material injury to Indian manufacturers, especially in the case of Vitamin-A Palmitate—a compound critical to pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.
India has traditionally relied heavily on imports to meet its demand for Vitamin-A Palmitate. However, the recent flood of underpriced shipments from China, the EU, and Switzerland has posed a significant threat to local producers. To counteract this trend, the government has levied anti-dumping duties ranging from $0.87 to $20.87 per kilogram. Chinese companies, with the exception of Shangyu NHU BioChem (taxed at $14.95/kg), will face the highest duty of $20.87/kg. Swiss major DSM Nutritional Products will pay a duty of $0.87/kg, while other Swiss exporters will be taxed at $8.2/kg. A flat rate of $11.09/kg will apply to all EU-based suppliers.
In the case of insoluble sulphur — a rubber additive crucial for the tyre and automotive industries — the government has imposed duties between $259 and $358 per metric tonne. Chinese imports will be taxed at a uniform $307/MT. Among Japanese exporters, Shikoku Chemicals will incur a lower duty of $259/MT, while all others from Japan will face the top slab of $358/MT.
The duties, effective immediately, are payable in Indian rupees based on the prevailing exchange rates. Government officials have stressed that these measures are essential to prevent price undercutting and predatory pricing by foreign suppliers, and to ensure fair competition in the domestic market.
This latest action reaffirms India’s resolve to enforce trade safeguards and uphold the interests of its domestic industries, especially in strategically significant sectors.
