India Cyclic Hydrocarbons HS2902 Import Data 2025 August Overview

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import: Key Takeaways

India's Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS Code 2902) import in August 2025 reveals a dual-sourcing strategy, with South Korea and Saudi Arabia dominating 59% of supply—high-value specialty products from Korea ($6.90/kg) and cost-effective bulk feedstocks from Saudi Arabia ($0.86/kg). The market shows stable demand, with importers balancing high-concentration risks from major suppliers while maintaining diversified secondary sources for resilience. This analysis covers August 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import Background

What is HS Code 2902?

HS Code 2902 covers cyclic hydrocarbons, including cyclanes, cyclenes, and cycloterpenes like cyclohexane, benzene, and toluene. These chemicals are critical feedstocks for industries such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and petrochemicals, driving consistent global demand due to their versatility in manufacturing processes. India’s reliance on imports under this code reflects its growing industrial base and need for these foundational chemicals.

Current Context and Strategic Position

As of August 2025, India’s HS Code 2902 imports face a 2.5% basic customs duty, 18% IGST, and a 10% social welfare surcharge, with no major policy changes reported [Seair]. The country remains a top global importer, with a 40% growth in shipments for items like diethyl hydrocarbons over the past year, underscoring its strategic reliance on these inputs [Cybex]. Market participants must monitor India’s cyclic hydrocarbons HS Code 2902 import trends in 2025 for compliance and sourcing optimizations amid stable demand.

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In August 2025, India's import of Cyclic Hydrocarbons under HS Code 2902 reached a value of 79.78 billion USD with a volume of 90.30 million kg, marking an unprecedented spike compared to previous months.

Price and Volume Dynamics

Month-over-month, the value surged from 544.71 million USD in July to 79.78 billion USD in August, while volume dropped from 196.56 million kg to 90.30 million kg. This indicates a severe price inflation, likely driven by supply chain disruptions or speculative buying in the chemical sector, rather than typical seasonal demand cycles. Year-to-date, the trend shows volatility, with April seeing higher volumes but August's anomaly overshadowing earlier stability.

External Context and Outlook

The import policy for HS Code 2902 remained consistent with a 2.5% basic customs duty and 18% IGST, as reported by [Seair], suggesting no regulatory changes caused the August spike. Instead, external factors like global supply shocks or currency fluctuations may have driven the volatility, highlighting the need for importers to monitor real-time market conditions beyond policy frameworks.

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

According to yTrade data, India's import of Cyclic Hydrocarbons under HS Code 2902 in August 2025 is highly concentrated in Styrene, which accounts for 59 percent of the import value and 46 percent of the weight. Its unit price of 1122 US dollars per kilogram signals a specialized, high-value product. An anomaly is p-xylene with a unit price of only 1.78 US dollars per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its extreme deviation.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining sub-codes fall into high-grade products like Toluene and Cyclohexane with unit prices exceeding 2000 US dollars per kilogram, mid-grade items such as o-xylene and cumene around 400 US dollars per kilogram, and lower-grade general hydrocarbons. This grouping indicates a market for differentiated, value-added chemicals rather than uniform bulk commodities.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The dominance of high-value products like Styrene gives suppliers significant pricing power in this market. Importers should prioritize securing reliable sources for these key chemicals to manage costs effectively in India's Cyclic Hydrocarbons HS Code 2902 Import for 2025 August.

Check Detailed HS 2902 Breakdown

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India's Cyclic Hydrocarbons HS Code 2902 import in 2025 August is heavily concentrated, with South Korea and Saudi Arabia collectively supplying over 59% of total import value. South Korea leads with 31.82% value share against just 4.07% weight share, signaling high unit price products around $6.90/kg, while Saudi Arabia’s 27.73% value against 28.41% weight indicates mid-range products near $0.86/kg, pointing to varied product grades within this chemical category.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Three clear clusters emerge: high-value partners like South Korea and Taiwan (high value/weight disparity); bulk commodity suppliers like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (closely aligned value/weight ratios); and high-frequency, lower-value players like China Mainland and Japan. This mix reflects India's need for both specialized cyclic hydrocarbons from advanced chemical industries and large-volume basic feedstocks from oil-rich nations, with frequent smaller shipments from neighboring Asian suppliers for just-in-time or diversified sourcing.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Importers should prioritize South Korean and Taiwanese partners for high-purity or specialty cyclic hydrocarbons, while leveraging Saudi and Kuwaiti sources for cost-effective bulk volumes. [Seair] and [Eximguru] note a 2.5% basic duty plus 18% IGST, making FTA partnerships crucial for duty savings. The tax burden favors long-term contracts with major suppliers to stabilize costs, while the fragmented import frequency suggests maintaining diversified secondary sources for supply chain resilience.

Table: India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

India Cyclic Hydrocarbons (HS 2902) 2025 August Import: Action Plan for Cyclic Hydrocarbons Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The India Cyclic Hydrocarbons Import 2025 August under HS Code 2902 is a market of high-value specialization and concentrated power. Core price drivers are product grade differentiation and dominant buyer behavior. High-purity items like Styrene command premium prices, while bulk commodities from oil-rich nations offer cost efficiency. The market is ruled by a small group of bulk buyers who drive volume and value. Geopolitical factors and supplier clusters further influence costs. Supply chain implications are clear. India depends on advanced chemical producers for specialty grades and on resource-rich countries for bulk feedstocks. This creates a dual dependency requiring both quality assurance and volume security. The low 2.5% duty supports bulk trade but does not eliminate supply chain risks from over-reliance on few partners or buyers.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Cyclic Hydrocarbons Market Execution

• Prioritize contracts with South Korean and Taiwanese suppliers for high-purity cyclic hydrocarbons. Their high unit prices reflect superior quality, ensuring product specifications are met for critical applications.
• Diversify your buyer base beyond the dominant bulk segment to include high-value infrequent purchasers. This reduces vulnerability to demand swings from a single client group and captures opportunistic project-based demand.
• Leverage FTA partnerships with key supplying countries to minimize the 18% IGST impact on landed costs. This directly lowers total import expenses and improves competitive pricing in the market.
• Monitor real-time trade data for regulatory changes or demand shifts in the dominant buyer segment. Early detection allows for rapid supply chain adjustments, preventing inventory mismatches or cost overruns.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Cyclic Hydrocarbons Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Cyclic Hydrocarbons Import 2025 August?

The August 2025 import value surged to 79.78 billion USD despite a volume drop, indicating severe price inflation likely due to supply chain disruptions or speculative buying, not regulatory changes.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Cyclic Hydrocarbons Import 2025 August?

South Korea (31.82% value share) and Saudi Arabia (27.73%) dominate, supplying over 59% of total imports, with South Korea specializing in high-value products and Saudi Arabia in bulk commodities.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across India Cyclic Hydrocarbons Import 2025 August partner countries?

Prices vary due to product grades—high-value items like Styrene (1122 USD/kg) from South Korea contrast with bulk commodities like p-xylene (1.78 USD/kg) from other suppliers.

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Cyclic Hydrocarbons?

Prioritize securing bulk buyers (76% of import value) for stable demand, while diversifying into high-value infrequent buyers to mitigate reliance on dominant segments.

Q5. What does this India Cyclic Hydrocarbons import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Suppliers from South Korea and Taiwan have pricing power for high-grade products, while bulk exporters like Saudi Arabia must compete on cost efficiency for volume-driven demand.

Q6. How is Cyclic Hydrocarbons typically used in this trade flow?

The imports serve differentiated chemical applications, from high-value industrial processes (e.g., Styrene for plastics) to bulk feedstocks for basic manufacturing needs.