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DGFT extends minimum import price on soda ash imports till December 2025 to ensure fair trade
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
July 03 , 2025
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In its continued effort to ensure fair trade practices and safeguard domestic manufacturing, the Government of India, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has officially extended the Minimum Import Price (MIP) condition on the import of soda ash (disodium carbonate) under Chapter 28 of the ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule-I (Import Policy).
Disodium carbonate, also known as soda ash, is used in the pharmaceutical industry as an excipient for various purposes, primarily for pH regulation and as a component in effervescent formulations. It acts as a buffer and pH adjuster in different pharmaceutical preparations, ensuring the stability and efficacy of the medication.
The aim of MIP is to protect domestic industries from unfair competition by setting a floor price below which imports are not allowed. This measure is typically used to prevent dumping or predatory pricing practices by foreign exporters, which can harm local producers and disrupt domestic markets. MIPs are often implemented to provide breathing room for domestic industries to become more competitive.
As per Notification No. 23/2025-26, the Central government hereby extends the Minimum Import Price (MIP) of Rs. 20,108 per metric tonne (MT) on three specific Harmonized System (HS) codes — 28362010, 28362020, and 28362090 — will now remain effective for an additional six months, from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
The extension is made under the powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with Paragraphs 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, as amended.
This move follows the earlier Notification No. 46/2024-25 dated December 30, 2024, and reflects the government's sustained stance on regulating the import of critical chemicals to protect domestic producers from under-priced imports.
Indian manufacturers have often raised concerns about the dumping of cheaper imports, particularly from countries with surplus production capacities. The extension of the MIP is aimed at ensuring price stability and maintaining a level playing field.
The continued imposition of a MIP highlights the Indian government's focus on encouraging fair trade, supporting indigenous manufacturing, and preventing market distortions caused by unfair pricing strategies. The policy is expected to provide relief to domestic producers while maintaining sufficient availability of soda ash for the industry.
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