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Export dyes and pigments

Reactive and disperse dyes and organic pigments from Gujarat and Maharashtra; textile hubs in Asia and Europe buy them.

Free to exportHS 3204
HS code
3204
Synthetic organic colouring matter — reactive, disperse, acid, direct and vat dyes, organic pigments, optical brighteners (3204); other colouring matter such as titanium-dioxide and inorganic pigments (3206).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 as checked in November 2026. Ordinary dyes are free, but some intermediates and chemicals made in the same plants appear on the SCOMET list (Category 1 and 3); check any chemical that is not a finished colourant. Confirm your exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you ship.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 2.46 bn
to 150 countries

What is exported

India is one of the world's main dye makers, with clusters in Gujarat (Vapi, Ankleshwar, Vatva–Ahmedabad, Vadodara) and Maharashtra (Thane–Tarapur). Textile, leather, paint, ink and plastics makers buy the dyes and pigments. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 2.2 billion under HS 3204; the USA led, followed by China, Bangladesh, Turkey, Italy and the Netherlands.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Reactive dyesFor cotton and cellulose fibres — the largest Indian line.
  • Disperse dyesFor polyester.
  • Acid, direct and vat dyesFor wool, nylon, leather, paper and denim.
  • Organic pigmentsPhthalocyanine, azo and high-performance pigments for inks, paints and plastics.
  • Inorganic pigmentsTitanium dioxide, iron oxides and ultramarine (3206).

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratVapi, Ankleshwar, Vatva–Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Dahej
  • MaharashtraThane, Tarapur and Mumbai
  • OtherPunjab (Ludhiana) and Tamil Nadu (Tiruppur trading)

Export packing

  • Powders in 25 kg fibre drums or HDPE-lined bags; liquids in HDPE drums or IBCs.
  • Labels with product name, colour index, batch, net weight and hazard pictograms per GHS; SDS with every shipment.

Who buys abroad

  • Textile dyeing and printing mills
  • Ink, paint and plastics makers
  • Dye traders and standardisers
  • Leather tanneries

The quality buyers ask for

Strength
Colour strength against the agreed standard (for example 100% ± 3%)
Shade
Shade match (ΔE limit) against the master sample
Fastness
Light, wash and rubbing fastness ratings per ISO 105 methods
Restricted substances
Free of banned amines (REACH Annex XVII entry 43); heavy metals within limits; ZDHC MRSL conformance
Physical form
Powder, granules or liquid; moisture and insolubles as specified

Certificates

  • Safety Data Sheet (GHS)RequiredRequired with every chemical shipment.
  • EU REACH registrationOften askedRequired for substances placed on the EU market above 1 tonne a year.
  • ZDHC Gateway listingOften askedTextile brands increasingly require dyes listed on the ZDHC Gateway.
  • GOTS / bluesign approvalOften askedNeeded for dyes used on organic or premium textiles.
  • ISO 9001 / ISO 14001Often askedQuality and environmental systems.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 20-ft container typically holds about 12–16 tonnes of dyes in 25 kg drums or bags on pallets.

How it travels

Sea freight; some dyes are classed as dangerous goods.

Storage

Cool, dry storage in closed containers; keep away from moisture.

Shelf life

Typically about two years for powder dyes when stored properly; check the maker's data.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Product name, colour index name and number, batch, net weight and maker.
  • GHS hazard pictograms, signal word and precautionary statements in the buyer's language (EU CLP Regulation).
  • UN number and class marks on DG consignments.
Where to get it tested

NABL-accredited chemical and textile labs test colour strength, fastness and restricted substances (search 'dyes' or 'textiles' in the NABL directory). Textiles Committee labs also test for banned amines.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CHEMEXCILDyes and dye intermediates are listed under CHEMEXCIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC from CHEMEXCIL.chemexcil.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU REACH registration for each substance placed on the EU market above 1 tonne a year (through your importer or an Only Representative); Safety Data Sheet in the buyer's language.
  • Restricted substances: azo dyes that release banned amines (REACH Annex XVII, entry 43), heavy metals; brand buyers ask for ZDHC MRSL conformance.
  • Shade, strength and fastness matched against the buyer's standard sample, with a certificate of analysis per batch.
How to start small

A merchant exporter can represent a Gujarat dye maker to textile mills in Bangladesh, Vietnam or Indonesia, starting with a few standard reactive or disperse dyes. Send shade cards and lab samples, then ship 25 kg drums or bags on LC.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Selling into the EU without REACH registration of the substance.
  • Batch-to-batch shade variation; keep retained samples and shade records.
  • Wrong dangerous-goods classification for powders and liquid dyes.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3204 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2) and SCOMET list (Appendix 3)
  4. ECHA — Understanding REACH
  5. CHEMEXCIL — official site

Trade data

Indian dyes and pigments exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 2.46 bn
-0.7% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -8.7%
US$ 2.7 bn → US$ 2.46 bn
Buyer countries
150
Average export price
US$ 4.01
per kg · 6,14,953 tonnes shipped · US$ 4.22 the year before
United States of America: US$ 204 mnChina: US$ 187 mnBangladesh: US$ 175 mnTürkiye: US$ 163 mnItaly: US$ 100 mnIndonesia: US$ 99.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 98.2 mnBrazil: US$ 95.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 76.7 mnVietnam: US$ 75.9 mnJapan: US$ 65.8 mnMexico: US$ 64.5 mnThailand: US$ 62.7 mnSouth Korea: US$ 62.5 mnGermany: US$ 58.5 mnRussia: US$ 46.1 mnEgypt: US$ 45 mnSpain: US$ 44.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 38.8 mnBelgium: US$ 37.2 mnKenya: US$ 33.9 mnSouth Africa: US$ 33.6 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 31.6 mnSingapore: US$ 28.2 mnUnited States of America: US$ 204 mnUnited States of AmericaChina: US$ 187 mnChinaBangladesh: US$ 175 mnBangladeshTürkiye: US$ 163 mnTürkiyeItaly: US$ 100 mnIndonesia: US$ 99.2 mnIndonesiaNetherlands: US$ 98.2 mnNetherlandsBrazil: US$ 95.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 76.7 mnVietnam: US$ 75.9 mnJapan: US$ 65.8 mnMexico: US$ 64.5 mnThailand: US$ 62.7 mnSouth Korea: US$ 62.5 mnGermany: US$ 58.5 mnRussia: US$ 46.1 mnEgypt: US$ 45 mnSpain: US$ 44.4 mnMalaysia: US$ 38.8 mnBelgium: US$ 37.2 mnKenya: US$ 33.9 mnSouth Africa: US$ 33.6 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 31.6 mnSingapore: US$ 28.2 mnIndia
Where Indian dyes and pigments goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 2.55 bn2.5k2020-212021-22: US$ 3.31 bn3.3k2021-222022-23: US$ 2.66 bn2.7k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.42 bn2.4k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.7 bn2.7k2024-252025-26: US$ 2.46 bn2.5k2025-26
India’s dyes and pigments exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2025-26 — a 22% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 4.21 per kg2021-22: US$ 4.90 per kg4.902022-23: US$ 4.87 per kg2024-25: US$ 4.22 per kg2025-26: US$ 4.01 per kg4.012020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian dyes and pigments · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 2.55 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 3.31 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 2.66 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 2.42 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.7 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 2.46 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 2.45 bn (US$ 2.09 bn – US$ 2.87 bn)2.4k2026-272027-28: US$ 2.39 bn (US$ 2 bn – US$ 2.85 bn)2.4k2027-28
India’s dyes and pigments exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 2.39 bn

Likely range US$ 2 bn to US$ 2.85 bn.

Trend
-2.5% a year
Fit (R²)
0.17 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 204 mn-28.2%
2ChinaUS$ 187 mn+8.9%
3BangladeshUS$ 175 mn-9.9%
4TürkiyeUS$ 163 mn-5.4%
5ItalyUS$ 100 mn-7.1%
6IndonesiaUS$ 99.2 mn-9%
7NetherlandsUS$ 98.2 mn-13.4%
8BrazilUS$ 95.8 mn-19.5%
9United Arab EmiratesUS$ 76.7 mn-11.4%
10VietnamUS$ 75.9 mn-4.9%
11JapanUS$ 65.8 mn-5.4%
12MexicoUS$ 64.5 mn-13.5%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. KenyaUS$ 28.7 mn → US$ 33.9 mn+17.8%

Low demand

  1. HondurasUS$ 55.3 mn → US$ 38.6 mn-30.2%
  2. BelgiumUS$ 52 mn → US$ 37.2 mn-28.5%
  3. United States of AmericaUS$ 284 mn → US$ 204 mn-28.2%
  4. SingaporeUS$ 36.7 mn → US$ 28.2 mn-23.3%
  5. United KingdomUS$ 40.2 mn → US$ 31.6 mn-21.3%
  6. BrazilUS$ 119 mn → US$ 95.8 mn-19.5%
  7. SpainUS$ 52.8 mn → US$ 44.4 mn-16%
  8. MexicoUS$ 74.6 mn → US$ 64.5 mn-13.5%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Pigment blue 15 (pathalocyanine blue)3204 17 51 · Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereonUS$ 262 mn-9.7%46,465 tonnesUS$ 5.63 per kgwas US$ 5.82
Dyes, reactive dyes and preparations based thereon — reactive blacks3204 16 80US$ 198 mn-14.3%62,632 tonnesUS$ 3.17 per kgwas US$ 3.20
Dyes, reactive dyes and preparations based thereon — reactive blues3204 16 50US$ 126 mn-12.8%23,218 tonnesUS$ 5.41 per kgwas US$ 5.69
Pigment green 7 (pathalovyanine green)3204 17 61 · Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereonUS$ 115 mn-15.2%21,128 tonnesUS$ 5.45 per kgwas US$ 5.73
Other clrng matr containing <80% titnium dioxlde3206 19 00 · Colouring matter, pigments and preparations based on titanium dioxide, containing less than 80% by weight…US$ 98.2 mn+9.5%46,134 tonnesUS$ 2.13 per kgwas US$ 2.27
Dyes, reactive dyes and preparations based thereon — reactive reds3204 16 30US$ 82.9 mn-7.8%20,088 tonnesUS$ 4.13 per kgwas US$ 4.24
Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereon — pigment violets3204 17 40US$ 82.1 mn-12.1%3,513 tonnesUS$ 23.38 per kgwas US$ 23.90
Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereon — others pigment red3204 17 39US$ 79.1 mn-12.8%6,397 tonnesUS$ 12.37 per kgwas US$ 12.28
Others pigment yellow (organic)3204 17 19 · Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereonUS$ 74.7 mn-20.9%8,444 tonnesUS$ 8.85 per kgwas US$ 9.30
Dyes, reactive dyes and preparations based thereon — reactive yellows3204 16 10US$ 68.5 mn-6.2%20,389 tonnesUS$ 3.36 per kgwas US$ 3.41
Dyes, acid, whether or not premetallised and preparations based thereon, mordant dyes and preparations… — acid blacks(azo)3204 12 18US$ 67.6 mn-10.3%17,602 tonnesUS$ 3.84 per kgwas US$ 3.85
Colouring matter, other preparations in item no. 3206.4 — other preparations3206 49 90US$ 60.3 mn-7.2%47,877 tonnesUS$ 1.26 per kgwas US$ 1.37
Dyes, including mixtures of colouring matter of two or more of those from item no. 3204.11 to 3204.19 — other food colouring3204 19 89US$ 58.1 mn+11.4%6,904 tonnesUS$ 8.42 per kgwas US$ 7.91
Dyes, pigments and preparations based thereon — others pigment blue3204 17 59US$ 55.2 mn-26.3%7,710 tonnesUS$ 7.16 per kgwas US$ 7.13

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 25.7 bn
2023
India among exporters
#4
of 133 countries
India’s share of world exports
9.3%
US$ 2.36 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 22.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 6.34 bn 25.1%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 2.8 bn 11.1%
  3. 3USAUS$ 2.36 bn 9.3%
  4. 4IndiaUS$ 2.36 bn 9.3%
  5. 5United KingdomUS$ 879 mn 3.5%
  6. 6FranceUS$ 786 mn 3.1%
  7. 7Rep. of KoreaUS$ 762 mn 3%
  8. 8JapanUS$ 752 mn 3%
  9. 9BelgiumUS$ 746 mn 2.9%
  10. 10NetherlandsUS$ 715 mn 2.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.69 bn 6.6%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.65 bn 6.4%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 1.64 bn 6.4%
  4. 4IndiaUS$ 1.41 bn 5.5%
  5. 5Rep. of KoreaUS$ 1.18 bn 4.6%
  6. 6TürkiyeUS$ 1.16 bn 4.5%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 1.06 bn 4.1%
  8. 8FranceUS$ 1.04 bn 4.1%
  9. 9MexicoUS$ 920 mn 3.6%
  10. 10BrazilUS$ 740 mn 2.9%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

GermanyUS$ 1.69 bnIndia 8% · gap US$ 1.55 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 1.81 bnIndia 15.2% · gap US$ 1.53 bn
ChinaUS$ 1.66 bnIndia 11% · gap US$ 1.48 bn
South KoreaUS$ 1.28 bnIndia 4.6% · gap US$ 1.22 bn
ItalyUS$ 1.12 bnIndia 10.1% · gap US$ 1 bn
FranceUS$ 1.03 bnIndia 3.1% · gap US$ 993 mn
VietnamUS$ 936 mnIndia 8.7% · gap US$ 854 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 796 mnIndia 8.7% · gap US$ 726 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 815 mnIndia 13.4% · gap US$ 706 mn
SpainUS$ 642 mnIndia 8.3% · gap US$ 588 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export dyes and pigments

India is one of the largest makers and exporters of dyes and organic pigments, with strengths in reactive and disperse dyes. China is the main competitor and also a major buyer of Indian intermediates; Germany, Switzerland and Japan lead in specialty colourants. Demand comes from textile hubs in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Turkey and Indonesia, and from paint, ink and plastics makers. Openings are in compliant, eco-friendly dyes that meet brand restricted-substance lists, and high-performance pigments.

  1. 01Choose dye range

    Reactive for cotton mills, disperse for polyester, pigments for inks and paints.

  2. 02Check compliance

    Restricted-substance tests; REACH status for EU buyers.

  3. 03Lab samples

    Send shade cards and lab dips; agree the standard.

  4. 04Trial order

    Small bulk trial in the buyer's mill.

  5. 05Pack and document

    Drums with GHS labels; SDS and certificate of analysis.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill; claim RoDTEP and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    LC at sight or 60–90 day usance LC is common with mills.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting dyes and pigments

Do I need REACH to sell dyes in Europe?
Yes, above 1 tonne a year per substance; registration is done by the EU importer or your Only Representative.
Which council?
CHEMEXCIL (dyes and dye intermediates).
What drawback applies to reactive dyes?
3.5% of FOB capped at ₹27.1 per kg (item 320402).
What is ZDHC?
An industry programme of fashion brands that sets a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) for chemicals used in textile production.
Are dyes dangerous goods?
Some are; check the SDS section 14 for the UN number and class before booking.
Sources (5)
  1. CHEMEXCIL — official site
  2. ECHA — Understanding REACH
  3. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  4. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  5. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback

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