India imposes fresh anti-dumping duties on Bangladesh jute goods

India has revised anti-dumping duty rates on jute products imported from Bangladesh and Nepal, with the rates varying by producer, according to a notification by its finance ministry.
The Department of Revenue under India’s Ministry of Finance issued the notification on 24 September, amending the original notification of 30 December 2022 based on recommendations from a mid-term review by India’s Directorate General of Trade Remedies.
Under the new structure, 55 named Bangladeshi producers get comparatively lower duty rates, while all other producers face duties of up to US$445 per tonne on jute yarn/twine, $88 on hessian fabric, and $283 on sacking bags.
To avail the producer-specific rate, exporters must furnish a valid commercial invoice carrying a signed declaration identifying the manufacturer; failing that, the residual (highest) rate will apply.
Among the listed firms, AM Jute Industries Limited faces zero duty on both jute yarn/twine and hessian fabric, while Bonanza Jute Composite and Diverse Factory, Lovely Jute Mills, Nawhata Jute Mills and Poddar Agro Industries also get a nil rate on sacking bags.
Asha Jute Industries Limited would pay $59 per tonne on yarn and $94 on bags, Natore Jute Mills $107 on yarn (nil on bags), and Super Jute Mills Limited $139 on yarn and $155 on bags.
While the notification extends the sacking-bag duty to jute sacking cloth exported from Bangladesh, it exempts cloth produced by 10 specific firms — Mouna Jute Mills, Arnu Jute Mills, Rahman Jute Mills (Pvt), Jamuna Jute Industries, Sagar Jute Spinning Mills, Sidlaw Textiles (Bangladesh), Partex Jute Mills, Asha Jute Industries, Nawhata Jute Mills, and Mymensingh Jute Mills.
The exemption applies only if the importer is a manufacturer other than a sacking-bag maker, follows India’s concessional-rate import rules, and furnishes an undertaking that the cloth will not be converted into sacking bags — failing which the full duty becomes payable, said the notification.
Separate rates have also been set for Nepal-origin goods, with Arihant Multi-Fibres Ltd and Shree Raghupati Jute Mills Limited getting nil duty on yarn and sacking bags, while non-listed Nepali producers face $119 on yarn, $292 on hessian fabric and $247 on sacking bags.