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

The finance ministry announced the duties in a notification issued late on Friday. The duties will remain in place for five years. The decision followed 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 below fair market value. This practice undercut Indian producers.

Both products were essential to key industries in India. Vitamin-A Palmitate was used in pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. Insoluble Sulphur played 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, though used in small quantities, remained heavily import-dependent in India.

The duties took effect immediately and ranged from $0.87 to $20.87 per kilogram. Chinese exporters other than Shangyu NHU BioChem Co. Ltd. faced the highest duty of $20.87/kg. Shangyu NHU BioChem Co. Ltd. faced a lower duty of $14.95/kg. Swiss company DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. faced a duty of $0.87/kg. All other Swiss exporters faced a duty of $8.2/kg. Imports from the EU faced a flat duty of $11.09/kg.

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

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

Importers must pay the duties in Indian rupees. The payment must follow 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 was 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. This affected the profitability and pricing strength of Indian producers.

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