ICIS Blogs : government policy

PP anti dumping duty shocks

India Chemicals Blog — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:33:06 GMT

Anti-dumping duty (ADD) on polypropylene (PP) imports from Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Oman has finally been announced . And the high level of duties, which are company specific and range from $44.40/tonne to $1,033.65/tonne, has upset many processors...(read more)

Ouch! That hurts

India Chemicals Blog — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:44:06 GMT

I have been hearing that the Indian government will soon announce preliminary antidumping duty (ADD) on polypropylene (PP) imports from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Oman. A few lucky producers/exporters have escaped but there are many who face a stiff...(read more)

Stimulus planned for textiles

India Chemicals Blog — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:09:34 GMT

India's synthetic fibre and fibre intermediate produces will be happy to know that the textile industry is likely to soon receive a number of incentives from the government. A stimulus package, due to be announced next month, would include subsidies...(read more)

New Mangalore refinery shelved

India Chemicals Blog — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:33:22 GMT

ONGC has taken a difficult but sensible decision. It has finally shelved plans for a new 15m tonnes/year refinery and petrochemical complex at Mangalore. The project had been facing considerable resistance from the local population. In addition, questions...(read more)

Will a new broom sweep clean?

India Chemicals Blog — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:23:21 GMT

It is good to be back to some good news. The election is finally over and the UPA has been voted back to power with promises of stability and more reforms. But the chemicals industry will have to deal with a new minister as Ram Vilas Paswan was not be...(read more)

Green lobby strikes again

India Chemicals Blog — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:40:59 GMT

Chemplast Sanmar's new PVC plant is ready but commissioning remains uncertain as the company faces two petitions in the Supreme Court against the company's marine terminal facility that would be used to import vinyl chloride monomer feedstock...(read more)

Confronting China

India Chemicals Blog — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:00:13 GMT

It's the turn of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to highlight the threat of cheap Chinese imports . "The threat of dumping of cheap Chinese products in India is real and serious," says Venu Srinivasan, the new president of the...(read more)

New twist in Bhatinda story

India Chemicals Blog — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:21:43 GMT

Is Lakshmi Mittal having second thoughts about participating in the Bhatinda refinery project? This report suggests that Mittal might walk out of the project if the state government does not extend fiscal incentives that had been promised a few years...(read more)

Self-preservation first

India Chemicals Blog — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:23:06 GMT

India is aggressively moving to protect domestic companies with more news trickling in on safeguard and antidumping duties. The government is planning to initiate safeguard duty investigations on Chinese imports of 12-13 products from the chemicals and...(read more)

Let's talk about demand

India Chemicals Blog — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:24:55 GMT

The Indian government is reportedly planning a stimulus package for chemicals. But I don't think this can be called a stimulus package as the proposals seem to be mainly about tariff reduction. The department of chemicals and petrochemicals is once...(read more)

Getting off the starting block

India Chemicals Blog — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:15:45 GMT

So the government has finally approved three Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs). Now comes the difficult part. Who is going to undertake mega investments at a time at a time when the global economic outlook is uncertain...(read more)

Lobbying for protection

India Chemicals Blog — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:34:10 GMT

Protecting local companies during these difficult times is back on the Indian government's agenda. Antidumping investigations are on the rise with companies working hard to prove that low priced imports are hurting their businesses. The government...(read more)

Naphtha is back in fashion

India Chemicals Blog — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:03:49 GMT

A steep drop in petrochemicals demand had dragged down naphtha prices in the last two months. But low prices have stinulated demand, not only from crackers but also from fertiliser and power plants. With naphtha below $300/tonne, some Indian fertiliser...(read more)

New brooms sweep clean

India Chemicals Blog — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:38:38 GMT

I should not be surprised that Maharashtra's new chief minister is having second thoughts about Dow Chemical's plans for a research centre at Chakan, near Pune. Unfortunately, I am. I fail to see how a research centre will increase pollution....(read more)

Mumbai terror dents confidence

India Chemicals Blog — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:15:22 GMT

The deplorable terror attacks at Mumbai threaten to further shake business confidence in India at a time when companies across industrial sectors are struggling to cope with severe erosion in demand and profitability and the economy is straining to overcome...(read more)