India has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Insoluble Sulphur originating from China and Japan, a move aimed at protecting domestic manufacturers from unfairly priced imports. The Ministry of Finance issued a notification on Friday, June 6, 2025, formalizing the decision, which follows investigations that found Insoluble Sulphur from these countries was being dumped in India at prices below its normal value. This dumping was found to have caused material injury to India's domestic industry.
The anti-dumping duty, effective from June 6, 2025, will remain in place for five years unless revoked, superseded, or amended earlier. The duty applies to specific tariff items (38123930, 28020010, 38249900). For imports originating in or exported from China PR, a duty of USD 307 per metric ton is levied. For Japan, the duty varies: USD 259 per metric ton for products from Shikoku Chemicals Corporation and USD 358 per metric ton for products from other producers or when exported from any country other than Japan. The duties must be paid in Indian currency, based on the exchange rate notified by the Revenue Department on the date of filing the bill of entry.
Insoluble Sulphur is primarily used by tyre manufacturers to improve rubber vulcanization. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) conducted investigations and found that exporters from China and Japan were indeed dumping the product at depressed prices, which adversely affected the profitability and pricing power of Indian producers. The DGTR subsequently recommended the imposition of anti-dumping duties to counteract the harmful effects of these practices.
This action by the Indian government is expected to benefit domestic producers of Insoluble Sulphur, such as OCCL, a leading manufacturer of this rubber additive. By imposing these duties, the government aims to create a level playing field for domestic companies and ensure fair competition in the market.
The imposition of anti-dumping duties on Insoluble Sulphur from China and Japan is part of a broader effort by the Indian government to address unfair trade practices and protect domestic industries from the adverse effects of dumping. In a related notification, the government also imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Vitamin-A Palmitate from China, the European Union, and Switzerland, citing similar concerns about unfair pricing and injury to domestic producers. These duties on Vitamin-A Palmitate will range from $0.87 to $20.87 per kg.
