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Import export policy: Chemicals and allied products (HS 28 to 38)
Is import or export free, restricted or prohibited for chemicals and allied products? HS chapters 28 to 38: what each covers, DGFT policy lines, which licences apply and FY.
Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026
Section VI of the Harmonised System covers chemicals and allied products. For each chapter below you see what it covers, whether export or import is free, restricted or prohibited in the DGFT documents we read, which India-side licences usually apply, and the official trade values for FY 2025-26.
| HS chapter | Exports, US$ million | Imports, US$ million | Export policy | Import policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28: Inorganic chemicals | 4,496 | 14,180 | Free in general | 14 restricted code(s) |
| 29: Organic chemicals | 20,409 | 25,411 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | 30 restricted code(s) |
| 30: Pharmaceutical products | 25,073 | 3,607 | Has restricted, prohibited or STE lines | Free in general |
| 31: Fertilisers | 156 | 14,580 | Free in general | 2 restricted code(s) |
| 32: Dyes, paints and tanning extracts | 3,172 | 2,686 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 33: Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics | 2,656 | 1,536 | Free in general | 1 restricted code(s) |
| 34: Soap, lubricants and waxes | 1,063 | 1,430 | Free in general | 3 restricted code(s) |
| 35: Glues, enzymes and modified starches | 436 | 1,199 | Free in general | 4 prohibited code(s) |
| 36: Explosives and matches | 560 | 31 | Free in general | 24 restricted code(s) |
| 37: Photographic goods | 24 | 239 | Free in general | Free in general |
| 38: Miscellaneous chemical products | 7,113 | 8,857 | Free in general | 16 restricted code(s) |
Trade values are in US$ million for the financial year 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026), as published by TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S) and fetched on 2026-10-02. They can be revised later. Shares and changes are calculated from those figures. Year-on-year change compares 2025-26 with 2024-25.
"Free in general" means we found no restricted, prohibited or STE line for this chapter. Policy changes by DGFT notification. The import notes come from DGFT's lists of restricted (407 codes) and prohibited (88 codes) imports, both as on 12 June 2019. The export notes come from DGFT's chapter-wise export schedule, 2021 edition. Check your 8-digit code on DGFT's policy search for the current position.
Chapter by chapter
Chapter 28: Inorganic chemicals
Acids, alkalis, salts, industrial gases, rare-earth metal compounds and radioactive elements.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 4,496 million, +10.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Unspecified (684), USA (348), Oman (294), UAE (222).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CHEMEXCIL
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 14,180 million, +24.6% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): UAE (3,359), Japan (2,189), China (1,651), Jordan (843).
- Restricted (14 codes): natural, enriched and depleted uranium, plutonium, thorium and their compounds, subject to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 29: Organic chemicals
Hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, bulk drugs, vitamins and other organic compounds.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 20,409 million, +1.4% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (2,680), China (1,343), Netherlands (1,041), Brazil (924).
- Ozone-depleting chemicals controlled under the Montreal Protocol are Restricted, and Prohibited when exported to a country that is not a party to the Protocol.
Usually needed: CHEMEXCIL, Pharmexcil, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 25,411 million, -4.4% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (11,522), USA (1,757), Saudi Arabia (1,277), South Korea (1,206).
- Restricted (30 codes): ozone-depleting chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethane and chlorofluorocarbons, which can be imported by actual users with permission.
Usually needed: CDSCO (bulk drugs), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 30: Pharmaceutical products
Medicaments, vaccines, blood products, bandages and pharmaceutical goods.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 25,073 million, +2.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (8,665), UK (793), South Africa (716), Nigeria (657).
- Heparin and its salts need a health certificate issued jointly by CAPEXIL and the Regional Animal Quarantine Officer, as the schedule's condition says.
Usually needed: Pharmexcil, DGFT policy lines
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 3,607 million, +21.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Switzerland (494), Netherlands (448), USA (390), Denmark (323).
- No restricted or prohibited code in this chapter on DGFT's 2019 lists.
Usually needed: CDSCO (medicines), Legal Metrology (if packed)
Chapter 31: Fertilisers
Urea, phosphate, potash and other fertilisers.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 156 million, -3.6% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Brazil (66), Sri Lanka (16), UAE (9), Senegal (7).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CAPEXIL
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 14,580 million, +76.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): Russia (3,118), Saudi Arabia (2,397), China (2,337), Morocco (1,946).
- Restricted: animal dung and animal excreta.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 32: Dyes, paints and tanning extracts
Dyes, pigments, paints, varnishes, putty and inks.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 3,172 million, -10.9% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Bangladesh (254), USA (246), China (215), Turkey (180).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Chapter 33: Essential oils, perfumery and cosmetics
Essential oils, perfumes, cosmetics, skin care, hair care and toiletries.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 2,656 million, -1.7% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (482), UAE (285), Singapore (115), China (103).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CHEMEXCIL, Pharmexcil
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,536 million, +8.9% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (277), USA (142), France (112), Indonesia (108).
- Restricted: agar oil.
Usually needed: CDSCO (cosmetics), Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 34: Soap, lubricants and waxes
Soap, detergents, lubricating preparations, candles and polishes.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,063 million, -1.3% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (126), UAE (111), Bangladesh (54), Saudi Arabia (44).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: FIEO
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,430 million, -3.0% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (206), Germany (171), USA (143), Indonesia (137).
- Restricted: polybrominated biphenyls, polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls.
Usually needed: Legal Metrology (if packed), DGFT policy lines
Chapter 35: Glues, enzymes and modified starches
Casein, albumins, glues and enzymes.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 436 million, +9.9% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): UAE (51), USA (49), Saudi Arabia (28), Nepal (22).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: FIEO
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 1,199 million, +23.1% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (415), USA (136), Germany (81), Poland (64).
- Prohibited: animal rennet and certain enzymes of heading 3507.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 36: Explosives and matches
Explosives, fireworks, matches and pyrotechnic products.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 560 million, +46.1% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Egypt (86), South Africa (58), USA (40), Romania (27).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CAPEXIL
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 31 million, +32.2% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): USA (8), Thailand (7), China (6), Israel (3).
- Restricted (24 codes): blasting powder, gun powder, industrial explosives and explosives for mine blasting.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Chapter 37: Photographic goods
Photographic plates, film and chemicals.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 24 million, +19.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): Hong Kong (9), UAE (4), Bangladesh (2), Sri Lanka (1).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: FIEO
Chapter 38: Miscellaneous chemical products
Pesticides, disinfectants, chemical preparations and waste.
Exports from India
FY 2025-26: US$ 7,113 million, +2.0% on 2024-25. Largest destinations (US$ million): USA (1,209), Brazil (980), China (290), UAE (234).
- No restricted, prohibited or STE line found for this chapter in the schedule we read.
Usually needed: CHEMEXCIL
Imports into India
FY 2025-26: US$ 8,857 million, +10.5% on 2024-25. Largest sources (US$ million): China (2,029), USA (1,247), Indonesia (729), Germany (501).
- Restricted (16 codes): hazardous chemical products such as DDT, copper oxychloride and polybrominated products.
Usually needed: DGFT policy lines
Common questions
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Related guides
Official sources for this page
- DGFT list of restricted items for import (407 codes, as on 12 June 2019)
- DGFT list of prohibited items for import (88 codes, updated 12 June 2019)
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: chapter-wise Export Policy (2021 edition)
- DGFT ITC (HS) 2022 Schedule 1: General Notes regarding Import Policy
- DGFT ITC (HS) Schedule 2: General Notes to Export Policy
- DGFT Appendix 2T: list of Export Promotion Councils and Commodity Boards
- TradeStat, Department of Commerce (data from DGCI&S)
- DGFT ITC (HS) import and export policy search