CBIC Imposes ADD on Acetonitrile Imports from China, Russia & Taiwan

CBIC imposes Anti Dumping Duty on imports of ‘Acetonitrile’ originating in or exported from China PR, Russia and Taiwan vide Notification No. 16/2025-Customs (ADD)|Dated: 19th June, 2025

Ministry of Finance, through Notification No. 16/2025-Customs (ADD) dated June 19, 2025, has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on the import of Acetonitrile (a chemical compound also known as MeCN, Methyl Cyanide, or Ethane Nitrile) falling under subheading 2926 90 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. The duty applies to imports originating in or exported from China PR, Russia, and Taiwan. Following the final findings of the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), it was concluded that these imports were being dumped at prices below normal value, causing material injury to India’s domestic industry. Duties have been imposed on various producers, with rates ranging from USD 202 to USD 481 per metric tonne, depending on the origin and producer. The duty is applicable for five years from the date of publication of the notification and is payable in Indian currency, based on the exchange rate applicable on the bill of entry date. The notification includes producer-specific rates for several Chinese exporters and a general rate for others from the subject countries. The customs classification mentioned is indicative, and the product under consideration includes Acetonitrile of any purity and under any name.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(Department of Revenue)

Notification No. 16/2025-Customs (ADD)|Dated: 19th June, 2025

G.S.R. 399(E).— Whereas, in the matter of “Acetonitrile” (hereinafter referred to as the subject goods) falling under subheading 2926 90 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975) (hereinafter referred to as the Customs Tariff Act), originating in, or exported from China PR, Russia and Taiwan (hereinafter referred to as the subject countries) and imported into India, the designated authority in its final findings vide notification No. 06/04/2024-DGTR, dated the 21^st March, 2025, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part I, Section 1, dated the 21^st March, 2025, has, inter alia, come to the conclusion that-

(i) the subject goods have been exported to India at a price below normal value, thus resulting in dumping;

(ii)  the dumping of the subject goods has resulted in material injury to the domestic industry in India;

(iii)  the landed price of imports is below the level of selling price of the domestic industry and is undercutting the prices of the domestic industry,

and has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duty on imports of the subject goods, originating in, or exported from, the subject countries and imported into India, in order to remove injury to the domestic industry.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act read with rules 18 and 20 of the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Anti-dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995, the Central Government, after considering the aforesaid final findings of the designated authority, hereby imposes on the subject goods, the description of which is specified in column (3) of the Table below, falling under the tariff item of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act as specified in the corresponding entry in column (2), originating in the countries as specified in the corresponding entry in column (4), exported from the countries as specified in the corresponding entry in column (5), produced by the producers as specified in the corresponding entry in column (6), and imported into India, an anti-dumping duty at the rate equal to the amount as specified in the corresponding entry in column (7), in the currency as specified in the corresponding entry in column (9) and as per unit of measurement as specified in the corresponding entry in column (8) of the said Table, namely :-

TABLE

#The customs classification is indicative only and not binding on the scope of the product under consideration.

* Acetonitrile is also known as MeCN (Methyl Cyanide), Cyano methane, Ethane Nitrile, Ethyl Nitrile and Methane Carbonitrile. The product under consideration covers Acetonitrile known by any name and with any level of purity.

2. The anti-dumping duty imposed under this notification shall be levied for a period of five years (unless revoked, superseded or amended earlier) from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette and shall be payable in Indian currency.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this notification, rate of exchange applicable for the purpose of calculation of such anti-dumping duty shall be the rate which is specified in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), issued from time to time, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 14 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), and the relevant date for the determination of the rate of exchange shall be the date of presentation of the bill of entry under section 46 of the said Act.

[F. No CBIC-190349/21/2025-TRU Section-CBEC]
DHEERAJ SHARMA, Under Secy.