Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Raw materials

Import methanol

Bulk chemical imported mostly from Gulf producers; 2.5% BCD and 18% IGST, with hazardous-chemical rules.

Free to importHS 2905.11
Basic customs duty
2.5%
2.5%
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD
IGST
18%
18%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 1.09 bn
from 22 countries

The CBIC Customs Tariff lists 2905 11 00 at 2.5%, and Notification 45/2025-Customs carries no lower general rate for it. IGST is 18% (Schedule II, entry for Chapter 29 organic chemicals, Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)). Check ICEGATE for preferential rates under a trade agreement with the supplying country. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs) ↗

What is imported

Methanol is used to make formaldehyde, acetic acid, solvents and pharmaceuticals. India imported about US$ 1,086 million in 2025-26, mostly from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain (TradeStat). It comes in chemical tankers into port tank farms, and in ISO tanks or drums for smaller buyers.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1. Methanol is toxic and flammable, so storage and transport rules apply after clearance.

Licences and registrations you need

  • MoEFCC / State authority (MSIHC Rules)Methanol is a listed hazardous chemical under the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989. An importer must give the import details to the concerned authority as those rules require, and keep a material safety data sheet.moef.gov.in ↗
  • BIS (Quality Control Orders)Several chemical QCOs were withdrawn in November 2025. Check the current BIS QCO list for methanol before you sign a contract.bis.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Purity and water content against the certificate of analysis; Customs may draw samples.
  • Shore-tank quantity against the bill of lading; losses in transfer are common.
  • Dangerous-goods documents (IMDG class, MSDS) for containers and drums.

Practical tips

  • Small buyers usually do better buying from a port-based tank-farm distributor than importing a full parcel.
  • Appoint an independent surveyor for quantity and quality at discharge.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Storing methanol without the required fire-safety and storage approvals.
  • Ignoring the price swing between contract and arrival; methanol prices move quickly.
Sources (7)
  1. CBIC — Customs Tariff of India (import tariff, chapter PDFs)
  2. CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs dated 24.10.2025 (effective BCD rates, in force 1.11.2025)
  3. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), in force 22.09.2025
  4. MoEFCC — Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989
  5. Bureau of Indian Standards — product certification and Quality Control Orders
  6. DGFT — ITC(HS) import policy (Schedule 1)
  7. Commerce Ministry TradeStat — commodity-wise imports by country (FY 2025-26)

Import data

Where India buys methanol

India’s imports from the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, financial years.

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 1.09 bn
Change from 2024-25
+18.3%
Supplying countries
22
Biggest supplier
Oman
43%
Oman: US$ 465 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 274 mnQatar: US$ 95.3 mnBahrain: US$ 86.2 mnRussia: US$ 43 mnMalaysia: US$ 33.5 mnAlgeria: US$ 22.6 mnJapan: US$ 21.4 mnChina: US$ 14.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 3.1 mnGermany: US$ 1 mnUnited States of America: US$ 900kSingapore: US$ 780kOman: US$ 465 mnOmanSaudi Arabia: US$ 274 mnQatar: US$ 95.3 mnBahrain: US$ 86.2 mnRussia: US$ 43 mnRussiaMalaysia: US$ 33.5 mnMalaysiaAlgeria: US$ 22.6 mnAlgeriaJapan: US$ 21.4 mnJapanChina: US$ 14.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 3.1 mnGermany: US$ 1 mnUnited States of America: US$ 900kUnited States of AmericaSingapore: US$ 780kIndia
Where India imports methanol from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 589 mn5892020-212021-22: US$ 996 mn9962021-222022-23: US$ 938 mn9382022-232023-24: US$ 897 mn8972023-242024-25: US$ 918 mn9182024-252025-26: US$ 1.09 bn1.1k2025-26
India’s methanol imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1OmanUS$ 465 mn+6.8%
2Saudi ArabiaUS$ 274 mn+11.7%
3QatarUS$ 95.3 mn-15.9%
4BahrainUS$ 86.2 mn+84%
5RussiaUS$ 43 mn—
6MalaysiaUS$ 33.5 mn—
7AlgeriaUS$ 22.6 mn+93.2%
8JapanUS$ 21.4 mn+2,13,500%
9VenezuelaUS$ 15.6 mn-0.8%
10ChinaUS$ 14.7 mn+167.8%
11TrinidadUS$ 7.3 mn—
12United Arab EmiratesUS$ 3.1 mn-31.2%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. JapanUS$ 10k → US$ 21.4 mn+2,13,500%
  2. ChinaUS$ 5.5 mn → US$ 14.7 mn+167.8%
  3. AlgeriaUS$ 11.7 mn → US$ 22.6 mn+93.2%
  4. BahrainUS$ 46.8 mn → US$ 86.2 mn+84%
  5. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 245 mn → US$ 274 mn+11.7%

Shrinking sources

  1. QatarUS$ 113 mn → US$ 95.3 mn-15.9%

Which forms come in, and at what price

Imports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Saturated methanol (methyl alcohol)2905 11 00US$ 1.09 bn+18.3%3.58 mn tonnesUS$ 0.30 per kg

Source: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

More in raw materials

All import guides →