India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Sodium Cyanide and Initiates Anti-Dumping Investigation on Glufosinate

On June 27, 2024, the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance of India, issued Notification No. 10/2024-Customs(ADD), accepting the final anti-dumping recommendation made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on March 28, 2024. The notification imposes a five-year anti-dumping duty on sodium cyanide originating from or imported from China, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. This case involves products under Indian Customs Code 2837. The measure takes effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

The anti-dumping duty rates for the involved companies are as follows:

• For Chinese producer Hebei Chengxin Co. Ltd.: $286 per ton

• For other Chinese producers: $554 per ton

• For EU producer Luební závody Draslovka a.s. Kolín: $13 per ton

• For other EU producers: $230 per ton

• For Japanese producers: $447 per ton

• For South Korean producers: $413 per ton

On March 31, 2023, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India announced the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation on sodium cyanide originating from or imported from China, the EU, Japan, and South Korea, in response to an application submitted by Indian domestic companies Hindusthan Chemical Company and United Phosphorous Limited.

The dumping investigation period for the case was from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022 (12 months). The injury investigation periods were from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020; April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021; April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022; and October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022.

This investigation covers products under Indian Customs Code 283711 and some products under codes 28371990, 28372090, 28372040, 28391100, and 28371910. On March 28, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India issued an announcement making an affirmative final determination on this case.

According to 2023 Indian customs data, Japan was the largest supplier of sodium cyanide to India, accounting for 51% (about 3,000 tons); China was second, accounting for 27% (about 1,500 tons); South Korea, Germany, and the Czech Republic accounted for 11%, 9%, and 2% respectively. This diversified supply pattern may change due to the new policy.

It is worth noting that sodium cyanide is an important raw material for various pesticides. Affected pesticide varieties include glufosinate, triazine herbicides (such as atrazine, ametryn, and terbuthylazine), some sulfonylureas (such as pyrazosulfuron), clethodim, and strobilurins such as azoxystrobin.

Recent anti-dumping investigations on pesticides initiated by India:

On June 19, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India officially launched an anti-dumping investigation on glufosinate products originating from or imported from China. The products involved are glufosinate and its salts in any form. This case involves products under Indian Customs Codes 38089190, 38089390, and 38089990. Prior to this, on June 3, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India officially announced that for glufosinate technical (95% or above) products under Customs Code 38089390, imports would no longer be allowed if the price is below CIF 1,289 rupees/kg (equivalent to 112.3 Chinese yuan).

On March 29, 2024, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India officially initiated an anti-dumping investigation on imported herbicide pretilachlor and its intermediate PEDA (2,6-diethyl-N-(2-propoxyethyl)aniline) originating from China.

On December 29, 2023, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India initiated the first sunset review investigation on countervailing duty for atrazine technical originating from or imported from China. The products involved are under Indian Customs Codes 38089199, 38089390, 38089110, and 38089990.

At the 2024 China Pesticide Exporting Workshop （CPEW） to be held in Hangzhou, China on July 18-19, experts from India will discuss with industry colleagues the subsequent impact of anti-dumping policies on agrochemical companies and production in both countries. You are welcome to attend the event. 

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