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Raw materials

Import wood pulp

Paper, tissue and hygiene-product makers import kraft pulp; 5% BCD, nil for paper and paperboard makers under end-use rules.

Free to importHS 4703
Basic customs duty
2.5–5%
5% (tariff); Nil for newsprint, paper and paperboard makers; 2.5% for other heading 9619 hygiene goods (end use)
Social welfare surcharge
10% of BCD (nil where BCD is nil)
IGST
5%
5%
India’s imports, 2025-26
US$ 863 mn
from 37 countries

The tariff rate for all lines of 4703 is 5%. S. No. 160 of Notification 45/2025-Customs gives Nil for pulp used to make newsprint, paper and paperboard or adult diapers, and 2.5% for other goods of heading 9619 (such as sanitary pads and baby diapers), subject to the end-use procedure (IGCR rules, condition 3). Notification 02/2026-Customs extended this entry to 31 March 2028. IGST is 5% (Schedule I, entry 4703). CBIC — Notification 45/2025-Customs dated 24.10.2025 (effective BCD rates, in force 1.11.2025) ↗

What is imported

Bleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulp is imported by paper and board mills, tissue makers and diaper and sanitary-pad manufacturers. India imported about US$ 863 million of 4703 pulp in 2025-26, mainly from the USA, Indonesia, Brazil and Chile (TradeStat). It ships in wire-tied bales on pallets or as break-bulk.

Import policy · Free to import

Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 1.

Licences and registrations you need

  • Customs (IGCR end-use procedure)To claim the Nil or 2.5% end-use rate, file the intimation under the Customs (Import of Goods at Concessional Rate of Duty) Rules on the ICEGATE portal before import and keep end-use records.icegate.gov.in ↗

What is checked at the port

  • Grade of pulp (bleached or unbleached, softwood or hardwood) so the correct 4703 line is used.
  • Air-dry weight against the invoice and mill certificate.
  • IGCR intimation and end-use records if a concessional rate is claimed.

Practical tips

  • Agree price on air-dry metric tonnes (ADMT) and fix the brightness and freeness specifications in the contract.
  • Ask for FSC or PEFC chain-of-custody papers if your buyers want certified paper.

Where new importers go wrong

  • Claiming the Nil rate without filing the IGCR intimation — Customs then charges the full 5%.
  • Wet or damaged bales from poor stowage; check the survey report before accepting.
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. Notification 02/2026-Customs dated 01.02.2026 (amends 45/2025-Customs)
  4. CBIC — Notification 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate), in force 22.09.2025
  5. ICEGATE — Customs duty and tariff look-up
  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 wood pulp

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

Imports, 2025-26
US$ 863 mn
Change from 2024-25
+14.8%
Supplying countries
37
Biggest supplier
United States of America
31%
United States of America: US$ 267 mnIndonesia: US$ 134 mnBrazil: US$ 89.1 mnChile: US$ 72.9 mnSingapore: US$ 66.6 mnSweden: US$ 45.5 mnAustria: US$ 24.6 mnChina: US$ 21.1 mnHong Kong: US$ 19 mnCanada: US$ 18.3 mnFrance: US$ 14.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 10.9 mnSouth Africa: US$ 9.5 mnGermany: US$ 9.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 267 mnUnited States of AmericaIndonesia: US$ 134 mnIndonesiaBrazil: US$ 89.1 mnBrazilChile: US$ 72.9 mnChileSingapore: US$ 66.6 mnSingaporeSweden: US$ 45.5 mnSwedenAustria: US$ 24.6 mnChina: US$ 21.1 mnHong Kong: US$ 19 mnCanada: US$ 18.3 mnFrance: US$ 14.7 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 10.9 mnSouth Africa: US$ 9.5 mnGermany: US$ 9.4 mnIndia
Where India imports wood pulp from — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 363 mn3632020-212021-22: US$ 578 mn5782021-222022-23: US$ 926 mn9262022-232023-24: US$ 785 mn7852023-242024-25: US$ 752 mn7522024-252025-26: US$ 863 mn8632025-26
India’s wood pulp imports · US$ million

Biggest supplying countries

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 267 mn+12.8%
2IndonesiaUS$ 134 mn-39.3%
3BrazilUS$ 89.1 mn+267.8%
4ChileUS$ 72.9 mn+44%
5SingaporeUS$ 66.6 mn+57.5%
6SwedenUS$ 45.5 mn+25.2%
7FinlandUS$ 35.9 mn+207%
8AustriaUS$ 24.6 mn+66.5%
9ChinaUS$ 21.1 mn-11.5%
10Hong KongUS$ 19 mn+566.7%
11CanadaUS$ 18.3 mn-50.5%
12FranceUS$ 14.7 mn+10.5%

Which sources are growing and shrinking

Growing sources

  1. Hong KongUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 19 mn+566.7%
  2. BrazilUS$ 24.2 mn → US$ 89.1 mn+267.8%
  3. FinlandUS$ 11.7 mn → US$ 35.9 mn+207%
  4. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 4.4 mn → US$ 10.9 mn+150.3%
  5. GermanyUS$ 4 mn → US$ 9.4 mn+134%
  6. AustriaUS$ 14.8 mn → US$ 24.6 mn+66.5%

Shrinking sources

  1. CanadaUS$ 36.9 mn → US$ 18.3 mn-50.5%
  2. IndonesiaUS$ 221 mn → US$ 134 mn-39.3%
  3. ChinaUS$ 23.9 mn → US$ 21.1 mn-11.5%

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
Bleached or semi-bleached coniferous chemical wood pulp sulphate4703 21 00US$ 411 mn+22.4%4,71,177 tonnesUS$ 0.87 per kg
Bleached or semi-bleached non-coniferous chemical wood pulp sulphate4703 29 00US$ 394 mn+10.8%7,09,948 tonnesUS$ 0.55 per kg
Chemical wood pulp unblcd confrs,sulphate4703 11 00US$ 40.4 mn+21.4%60,383 tonnesUS$ 0.67 per kg
Chemical wood pulp unblcd n-conifrs,slphte4703 19 00US$ 17.7 mn-34.7%10,420 tonnesUS$ 1.69 per kg

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

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