Indian soda ash manufacturers in Gujarat are being provided temporary relief thanks to the recent duty imposed on soda ash imports from China. Experts of the soda ash industry say they expect that imp…
Indian soda ash manufacturers in Gujarat are being provided temporary relief thanks to the recent duty imposed on soda ash imports from China. Experts of the soda ash industry say they expect that imposition of the duty will revive the demand for domestic production, which suffered considerably due to cheap imports from China. The 20% duty on imports of soda ash from China, imposed by the Indian ministry of finance on 21 April 2009, will remain in force until 5 November 2009. The central government decided on the duty after considering preliminary findings in a report from the director general safeguard (DGS) observing that increased imports of soda ash from China had created a serious threat of market disruption. The Gujarat soda ash industry welcomed the move saying that government should impose a permanent duty and not a temporary one. Safeguard duty provides only short term relief. We will make representation before the government to impose anti-dumping duty, said YR Singh, executive director, Alkali Manufacturers Association of India (AMAI). The market share of Chinese manufacturers in the Indian soda ash market increased from 0.44% in 2005-06 to 2.59% in April-September 2008-09, he added. Gujarat contributes for about 95% of India“s total soda ash production. The largest producer of soda ash in the country is Tata Chemicals Ltd., followed by Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. (GHCL) and Nirma Ltd., at second and third position respectively. Other main manufacturers of soda ash, which is used in the manufacture of detergent, soaps, float glass and other industrial chemicals, are Saurahtra Chemicals, DCW Ltd. and Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd.