Import duty on esters of formic acid from Dubai (UAE) to India
HS 29151300 · Dubai / UAE → India · SATURATED ACYCLIC MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND THEIR ANHYDR
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 | ₹75,000 | ₹0 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | ₹7,500 | ₹0 |
| IGST | ₹1,94,850 | ₹1,80,000 |
| Total duty | ₹2,77,350 | ₹1,80,000 |
CEPA duty saving on this example: ₹97,350 . Run your own numbers in the import-duty estimator. New to BCD, SWS and IGST? See the glossary.
What drives the rate
Importing esters of formic acid (HS 29151300) from the UAE to India attracts a 7.5% MFN basic customs duty, and the India–UAE CEPA preferential rate is 0%. Formate esters are used as solvents, flavour and fragrance components and chemical intermediates, a specialty rather than bulk import. CEPA removes the 7.5% MFN duty. The 40% regional-value-content rule requires genuine UAE esterification; drumming imported ester does not confer origin, and on a specialty line moving in small lots through distributors that distinction is the whole question. Where the material is destined for food, flavour or fragrance use, an FSSAI import licence and food-import clearance apply, with labelling, additive and shelf-life compliance checked at the port — obligations that run independently of customs and attach to the importer rather than the consignment. Because volumes are small and values moderate, importers often overlook the Certificate of Origin altogether. On a repeat specialty line the saving still justifies the paperwork, and the documentation is the same each time: establish the esterification site once and reuse the declaration. 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 8.25% of assessable value on every consignment — the 7.5-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 esters of formic acid (HS 29151300) 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 ↗
- FSSAI FSSAI import licence and food-import clearance, with labelling, additive and shelf-life compliance checked at the port of entry. 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 esters of formic acid from the UAE to India?
- The standard MFN basic customs duty is 7.5%; 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 esters of formic acid?
- On a CIF value of ₹10,00,000, total duty falls from ₹2,77,350 (MFN) to ₹1,80,000 (CEPA) — about ₹97,350 saved per shipment, scaling with consignment value.
- What do I need to claim the CEPA rate on esters of formic acid?
- A valid preferential Certificate of Origin (eCoO 2.0) proving UAE origin under the Rules of Origin. Without it, customs charges the 7.5% MFN rate.