India extends anti-dumping duty on melamine, vitrified tile imports from China

The government has extended anti-dumping duty on melamine originating in or exported from China, up to March 31, 2021, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said in a notification Thursday.

“The designated authority has requested for further extension of the antidumping duty on the subject goods originating in or exported from the subject country,” the Board said in a notification issued Thursday, extending the duty by a month from the earlier deadline of February 28, 2021.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) began a sunset review of an anti-dumping probe on the imports of melamine from China in September 2020, based on a complaint by Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited. Antidumping duty was first imposed on the product in 2004 and was extended after multiple reviews.


The DGTR had said at that time that there was prima facie evidence of dumping and consequential injury to the domestic industry on account of volume effect of significant imports, low production, capacity utilization, sales and market share and price effect due to positive and significant price undercutting and price underselling. This had led to losses, cash losses and negative return on capital employed.

The authority had added that there was a likelihood of dumping and consequential injury on cessation of the anti-dumping duty.

Melamine is used for making melamine formaldehyde, which in turn is used in producing downstream products. Melamine formaldehyde resin used for laminates offer good hardness, resistance to scratch, stain, water and heat.

In a separate notification, the Board has extended anti-dumping duty on imports of glazed or unglazed porcelain or vitrified tiles in polished or unpolished finish with less than 3% water absorption, from China, till June 28, 2021.