India Ethylene Polymers HS3901 Import Data 2025 August Overview

India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import: Key Takeaways

India’s Ethylene Polymers (HS Code 3901) imports for August 2025 reveal heavy reliance on Gulf suppliers like the UAE and Saudi Arabia for bulk commodity-grade shipments, while East Asian and US partners deliver higher-value specialized grades. Buyers should adopt a dual sourcing strategy—leveraging Gulf cost efficiency for bulk resins and technical partnerships elsewhere for innovation. This analysis, covering August 2025, is based on processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import Background

What is HS Code 3901?

HS Code 3901 covers polymers of ethylene, in primary forms, including low-density, linear low-density, and high-density polyethylene. These materials are critical for packaging, construction, and automotive industries due to their durability and versatility. Global demand remains stable, driven by their widespread use in manufacturing and consumer goods.

Current Context and Strategic Position

As of August 2025, India’s imports of ethylene polymers under HS Code 3901 continue under a stable duty structure, with a 7.5% basic customs duty, 18% IGST, and a 10% social welfare surcharge [Cybex]. No major policy changes have been reported, but India’s reliance on imports, particularly from China and Singapore, underscores the need for market vigilance. The India ethylene polymers HS Code 3901 import 2025 August landscape reflects steady trade activity, emphasizing the product’s strategic role in domestic industrial supply chains.

India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In August 2025, India's imports of Ethylene Polymers under HS Code 3901 surged to a value of 110.33 billion USD, with a volume of 151.34 million kg, marking a significant deviation from previous months and highlighting a potential one-off high-value transaction in the market.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month comparison shows a dramatic spike in import value from July's 610.61 million USD to August's 110.33 billion USD, while volume decreased from 266.36 million kg to 151.34 million kg, indicating a sharp price increase or a large, atypical shipment. This outlier likely reflects a specific industrial stock replenishment or a bulk procurement event, rather than a sustained trend, as the general 2025 pattern from January to July had shown gradual growth in both value and volume, typical for ethylene polymers demand cycles in packaging and construction sectors.

External Context and Outlook

The stable import duty structure, with a 7.5% basic customs duty and 18% IGST as noted in [Eximguru], supports continued trade activity without recent policy shocks. This consistency, coupled with India's growing industrial demand, suggests that the August spike may normalize, with imports under HS Code 3901 expected to align with broader economic growth and seasonal patterns in the coming months.

India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

India's import of Ethylene Polymers under HS Code 3901 in August 2025 is dominated by high-density polyethylene, specifically sub-code 39012000 for polyethylene with a specific gravity of 0.94 or more. According to yTrade data, this product accounts for over a third of the import value and nearly half of the weight, with a unit price of 531.27 USD per kilogram, indicating a strong specialization in this grade without extreme price anomalies.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The other sub-codes fall into two main groups: low-density polyethylene with specific gravity below 0.94, and ethylene copolymers like ethylene-vinyl acetate and ethylene-alpha-olefin types. Low-density variants have unit prices between 702.09 and 859.69 USD per kilogram, while copolymers range from 886.69 to 1156.43 USD per kilogram. This structure shows a market with differentiated grades based on composition and quality, rather than fungible bulk commodities, reflecting varied value-add stages.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Importers can leverage this differentiation for pricing power, focusing on higher-value copolymer segments to improve margins. With stable import duties, such as a 7.5% basic customs duty and 18% IGST as noted in [eximguru.com], cost predictability supports strategic decisions in sourcing and inventory management for India Ethylene Polymers HS Code 3901 Import in 2025 August.

Check Detailed HS 3901 Breakdown

India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

India's Ethylene Polymers HS Code 3901 Import for 2025 August shows a clear reliance on Gulf Cooperation Council suppliers, with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia collectively supplying over one-third of total import weight. The United Arab Emirates stands as the dominant partner by import value at $23.82B, yet its value ratio (21.59) is notably lower than its weight ratio (26.94). This disparity confirms these are bulk, commodity-grade shipments with a lower average unit price.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The import landscape forms two distinct clusters. The first is the Gulf bloc (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait), which provides massive volume at competitive prices, leveraging their position as major petrochemical producers with low feedstock costs. The second cluster includes East Asian partners (South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia) and the United States; they ship smaller volumes but likely supply more specialized, higher-value copolymer grades or technical compounds, as indicated by their higher value-to-weight ratios.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For buyers, this geographic split means a dual sourcing strategy: relying on Gulf suppliers for cost-effective bulk commodity resins while turning to East Asian and US producers for specialty grades. The stable import duty structure, with a 7.5% basic customs duty and 18% IGST as confirmed by customs portals (CusBuzz), makes price—not tariffs—the key factor. Companies should secure long-term contracts with Gulf producers for base polymers but develop technical partnerships with specialized manufacturers for product innovation.

Table: India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) Top Partner Countries (Source: yTrade)

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India Ethylene Polymers (HS 3901) 2025 August Import: Action Plan for Ethylene Polymers Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

India's Ethylene Polymers Import under HS Code 3901 in August 2025 is a commodity market driven by two primary factors: product grade differentiation and supplier geography. High-density polyethylene dominates volume, but specialized copolymers command premium prices. Geopolitical dynamics and feedstock costs in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries set baseline prices, while East Asian and U.S. suppliers influence high-value segment pricing. The supply chain implication is heavy reliance on GCC partners for bulk supply security, requiring robust logistics and inventory buffers against regional disruptions. India acts as a processing hub, converting imported resins into finished goods, with cost predictability aided by stable import duties (7.5% basic customs duty + 18% IGST).

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Ethylene Polymers Market Execution

• Analyze HS Code 3901 sub-categories monthly to track grade-specific price shifts. This identifies premium product opportunities faster than aggregated data.
• Use buyer frequency data to align inventory with dominant high-volume import cycles. It prevents overstock and reduces storage costs for bulk commodities.
• Diversify sourcing with targeted GCC contracts for base polymers and East Asian partnerships for specialty grades. This balances cost efficiency with innovation readiness.
• Monitor geopolitical and feedstock trends in GCC nations to anticipate supply or price shocks. It enables proactive logistics adjustments to avoid disruptions.

Take Action Now —— Explore India Ethylene Polymers Import Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in India Ethylene Polymers Import 2025 August?

India's August 2025 import surge to 110.33 billion USD reflects a one-off high-value transaction, likely bulk procurement, as volume dropped while value spiked sharply. This deviation contrasts with the gradual growth seen earlier in 2025.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this India Ethylene Polymers Import 2025 August?

The UAE and Saudi Arabia dominate, supplying over one-third of total weight, with the UAE alone contributing 26.94% of weight and 21.59% of value. East Asian partners like South Korea and the US ship smaller volumes but likely higher-value grades.

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

Price differences stem from product specialization: Gulf suppliers focus on bulk commodity-grade polyethylene (e.g., 39012000 at 531.27 USD/kg), while East Asian/US partners provide pricier copolymers (886.69–1156.43 USD/kg).

Q4. What should importers in India focus on when buying Ethylene Polymers?

Prioritize securing contracts with dominant high-volume buyers (87.39% of import value) for stability, while diversifying into specialty copolymers from East Asia/US for higher margins.

Q5. What does this India Ethylene Polymers import pattern mean for overseas suppliers?

Gulf suppliers benefit from bulk demand but face price competition, while East Asian/US exporters can leverage niche demand for high-value grades. Reliance on India’s concentrated buyer base increases vulnerability to demand shifts.

Q6. How is Ethylene Polymers typically used in this trade flow?

Imports serve varied industrial needs, from packaging (bulk HDPE/LDPE) to specialized applications like technical compounds (copolymers), reflecting India’s growing construction and manufacturing sectors.