Import duty on ethylene from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 29012100 · Dubai / UAE → India · ACYCLIC HYDROCARBONS
Data last updated: · MFN duty & IGST verified against ICEGATE (Indian Customs EDI). CEPA preferential rate per the India–UAE CEPA schedule. Verify your exact HS line before filing.
Duty breakdown on a ₹10,00,000 shipment
Enter your own value to recalculate the table below.
| Component | Standard (MFN) | CEPA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty | ₹25,000 | ₹0 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹2,500 | ₹0 |
| IGST | ₹1,84,950 | ₹1,80,000 |
| Total duty | ₹2,12,450 | ₹1,80,000 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹32,450 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing ethylene (HS 29012100) from the UAE to India attracts a 2.5% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Ethylene is the highest-volume petrochemical in the world and the base for polyethylene, glycols and a long downstream chain that Indian converters depend on. CEPA removes the 2.5% MFN duty. Because ethylene is produced by UAE crackers from regional feedstock, the 40% value-content rule is usually met comfortably. The binding constraints are physical and regulatory rather than fiscal: ethylene ships refrigerated or as gas under pressure, requiring PESO approval for import, storage and handling, specialised terminals and hazardous-cargo documentation. Terminal access is the real gate — a cargo cannot be received without it, and terminal capability is a far scarcer commodity than a tariff concession. Confirm terminal capability and the licence position before optimising the duty line. On a rate this low the duty is among the smallest numbers in the landed-cost model, which makes the paperwork worth doing once as a standing arrangement rather than negotiating per cargo. India's schedule (Annex 2A, modality TEI) took this line to zero in the agreement's first year, 2022, so the preference is fully phased in and nothing further changes. The preference is worth 2.75% of assessable value on every consignment — the 2.5-point basic-duty gap plus the 10% Social Welfare Surcharge that rides on it — so it scales with shipment size rather than with effort, and the Certificate of Origin costs the same either way. Social Welfare Surcharge adds 10% on the basic duty, not on the goods, and IGST of 18% then applies to the CIF + BCD + SWS total — IGST is recoverable as input tax credit, so the durable benefit is the basic duty alone. Confirm the live rate on ICEGATE before filing; ₹10,00,000 is only the worked example above.
Import compliance & clearances
Beyond duty, importing ethylene (HS 29012100) into India requires the following regulatory clearances. The CEPA preferential rate does not waive any of these — they apply regardless of origin.
- DGFT Valid IEC (Importer-Exporter Code) required; ITC(HS) import policy: Free source ↗
- PESO Licence from the Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organisation for import, storage and handling, with hazardous-cargo classification and approved packaging or pressure vessels. source ↗
Indicative and non-exhaustive — verify the current DGFT / BIS / FSSAI / CDSCO notification for your exact 8-digit HS line before importing. Not customs or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the import duty on ethylene from the UAE to India?
- The standard MFN basic customs duty is 2.5%; under India–UAE CEPA the preferential rate is 0%. SWS adds 10% on the basic duty and 18% IGST applies on the CIF + BCD + SWS base.
- How much can CEPA save on ethylene?
- On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,12,450 (MFN) to ₹1,80,000 (CEPA) — about ₹32,450 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on ethylene?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 2.5% MFN rate.