From September 22 to 25, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry successively accepted applications from domestic companies and initiated anti-dumping investigations into multiple Chinese chemical and pharmaceutical raw materials. The products involved include glycine, copolymer polyols, amoxicillin trihydrate, montelukast sodium, 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), and others, all of which are key imported raw materials for India’s domestic pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Case Filing Details by Product
Glycine: The case was initiated on September 22. The applicant is Avid Organics, and the HS codes involved are 29224910 and 29224990. Glycine is the simplest amino acid and is widely used as a pharmaceutical intermediate, food additive, feed additive, and basic raw material for the pesticide and pharmaceutical industries.
Copolymer Polyols: The case was initiated on September 23. Hydroxyl value ≥ 23.5. The applicant is Expanded Polymer Systems, and the HS codes involved are 39072010, 39072090, 39072910, and 39072990. The product is used in the production of polyurethane foams and elastomers, with downstream applications covering furniture, insulation, and automotive interiors.
Amoxicillin Trihydrate: The case was initiated on September 24. HS code: 29411030. The applicant is Apiloria Pharma Private Limited.
Montelukast Sodium: The case was initiated on September 24. The applicant is Morepen Laboratories, and the HS codes involved are 29333990, 29334990, 29339990, and 29420090.
6-APA: The case was initiated on September 25. The applicant is Qule Pharma, and the HS code is 29411050. This is the most core parent nucleus intermediate of penicillin antibiotics. This investigation covers both China and the EU, rather than targeting China alone.
Products Already Ruled On
Tonalide: The case was initiated on March 19, 2026. The applicant is the Indian domestic company Keva Fragrances Private Limited. On September 23, an affirmative preliminary anti-dumping determination was issued, recommending a provisional anti-dumping duty of USD 3,967/tonne, involving HS code 29143990.
Pentafluoroethane (HFC-125): On September 23, a five-year final anti-dumping determination was issued, with duty rates ranging from USD 92 to USD 1,335/tonne, involving HS code 38276300. Among them, Ruyuan Dongyangguang Fluorine received USD 92/tonne, Shandong Dongyue Chemical USD 1,254/tonne, Taicang Sinochem Environmental Protection Chemicals USD 743/tonne, and Zibo Feiyuan Chemical USD 903/tonne. All other Chinese exporters are subject to a uniform rate of USD 1,335/tonne.
Melamine: On September 28, an affirmative final anti-dumping determination was issued, recommending a five-year anti-dumping duty of USD 245 to USD 403/tonne, involving HS code 29336100. Huaqiang Chemical received USD 282/tonne, Xinjiang Yihua USD 245/tonne, and Xinjiang Xinlianxin USD 248/tonne. Xinji Jiuli Chemical, Xinji Jiuyuan Chemical, Sichuan Golden Elephant Sairui Chemical, Shandong Hualu-Hengsheng Chemical, Xinjiang Jinjiang Chemical, Weifang Changrun Chemical, and others all received USD 257/tonne. All other Chinese exporters are subject to a uniform rate of USD 403/tonne.
Duty Rate Divergence and Scope of Investigation
In the HFC-125 final determination, duty rates vary significantly among companies. Ruyuan Dongyangguang Fluorine’s rate of USD 92/tonne is only about 7% of the uniform rate, while Shandong Dongyue Chemical’s rate of USD 1,254/tonne is nearly 14 times that of the former. Such divergence usually reflects differences in companies’ degree of cooperation in responding to the case and the results of their efforts to obtain separate rates. For companies that have not responded or have not responded adequately, the uniform rate effectively constitutes a market access barrier.
The 6-APA investigation covers both China and the EU. 6-APA is a key parent nucleus of penicillin antibiotics, and China holds an absolutely dominant position in global supply of this product. Including the EU in the scope of the investigation indicates that India is adopting a broader trade-defense posture in protecting its domestic antibiotic API production capacity.
Impact and Response
This concentrated wave of case filings and rulings covers API intermediates, polyurethane raw materials, synthetic fragrances, refrigerants, and other competitive categories of China’s chemical exports. India is an important export market for Chinese chemical raw materials, and high anti-dumping duties will directly raise export costs. For products on which a final determination has not yet been made, relevant companies need to submit response materials to the Indian investigating authority within 37 days from the date the case is initiated. Seeking a separate duty rate is the main path to mitigating the impact of these barriers.
