India starts antidumping probe into insoluble sulphur imports from China, Japan

New Delhi – The Indian government has launched an antidumping investigation into imports of insoluble sulphur originating in or exported from China and Japan.

The probe follows a petition by Oriental Carbon and Chemicals Ltd, alleging dumping of the product from the two countries, the directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR) of the Indian commerce ministry said.

“The applicant has provided prima facie evidence with respect to injury suffered by the domestic industry because of the dumped imports,” said DGTR in a case-initiation notification 27 March.

The volume of the subject imports from the two countries has increased in “both absolute and relevant terms”, stated DGTR, noting that capacity utilisation of the domestic industry had declined.

“The price depression caused by the dumped imports has been preventing domestic industry from increasing its prices to recover the full cost and achieve rate of returns,” it added.

The period of investigation is January – December 2023 and the injury investigation period has been considered as of 1 April 2020 through to end of 2023.

Insoluble sulphur, by definition, is a polymeric sulphur which is insoluble in carbon disulphide, and is generally used as a vulcanisation agent in some rubber application, said DGTR.

The substance, it added, is “an important rubber additive agent”, which improves quality, wearability and resistance to fatigue and ageing.

Interested parties have 30 days to submit information relating to the investigation.