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Pharma & chemicals

Export plastic raw materials (polymers)

Polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and PET granules from big refineries; Nepal, China, Kenya and Vietnam lead.

Free to exportHS 3901
HS code
3901
Polymers in primary forms — polyethylene (3901), polypropylene (3902), polystyrene and ABS (3903), PVC (3904), polyesters such as PET and epoxy resins (3907).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 as checked in November 2026. Plastic waste and scrap have separate, stricter entries; check them if you deal in recycled material. 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$ 1.84 bn
to 142 countries

What is exported

Polymers are made by large refinery and petrochemical complexes in Gujarat (Jamnagar, Dahej, Hazira, Vadodara), Haryana (Panipat), West Bengal (Haldia), Assam and Maharashtra; traders and distributors resell their output abroad. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 435 million of polyethylene (HS 3901), led by Nepal, China, Kenya and Vietnam, about US$ 303 million of polypropylene (3902) and about US$ 736 million of polyesters (3907), led by the USA, the UAE and Singapore.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Polyethylene (LLDPE, LDPE, HDPE)Film, moulding and pipe grades (3901).
  • PolypropyleneHomopolymer and copolymer for raffia, moulding and fibre (3902).
  • PVC resinSuspension and emulsion grades for pipes and profiles (3904).
  • PET and polyestersBottle-grade PET chips, alkyd and epoxy resins (3907).
  • Polystyrene and ABSGPPS, HIPS, EPS and ABS (3903).

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratJamnagar, Dahej, Hazira and Vadodara
  • HaryanaPanipat
  • West Bengal and AssamHaldia; Lepetkata (Dibrugarh)
  • Maharashtra and KarnatakaNagothane, Mumbai; Mangaluru

Export packing

  • Granules in 25 kg valve or FFS bags, palletised and stretch-wrapped, or in 1-tonne jumbo bags.
  • Bags printed with producer, grade code, lot number and net weight.
  • Containers inspected for cleanliness and dryness; container liners for bulk loads.

Who buys abroad

  • Plastics processors (film, pipes, moulding, raffia)
  • Polymer distributors and traders
  • Packaging converters
  • Paint and composite makers (resins)

The quality buyers ask for

Grade
Producer grade code (film, injection, blow, pipe, raffia, fibre)
Melt flow index
MFI in g/10 min at stated test conditions (ASTM D1238 / ISO 1133)
Density
g/cm³ (for example 0.918–0.965 for polyethylene)
PVC K-value
K-value and bulk density for PVC resin
PET IV
Intrinsic viscosity (dl/g) for bottle and fibre grades; acetaldehyde for bottle grade

Certificates

  • Producer certificate of analysisRequiredRequired with every lot.
  • Food-contact declarations (EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177)Often askedFor grades used in food packaging.
  • REACH status of monomers and additivesOften askedEU buyers need confirmation that monomers and additives are registered.
  • Producer distributor authorisationOften askedProves you are an authorised channel for the producer's grades.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 40-ft container typically holds about 24–26 tonnes of granules in 25 kg bags on pallets or floor-loaded; a 20-ft carries about 16–18 tonnes.

How it travels

Sea freight; road and rail to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Dry, shaded storage; protect bags from sunlight and rain.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Producer name, grade code, lot number, net weight and production date on each bag.
  • Pallet and container marks matching the packing list and bill of lading.
Where to get it tested

CIPET centres across India test polymer properties (MFI, density, mechanical tests). NABL-accredited polymer labs also test grades and food-contact migration.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • PLEXCONCILAll plastics products, including plastic raw materials, are listed under PLEXCONCIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC from PLEXCONCIL.plexconcil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • Grade data sheet and certificate of analysis per lot (melt flow index, density, additives); buyers match grade codes exactly.
  • EU REACH: polymers themselves are exempt from registration, but their monomers and additives must be registered; food-contact grades need EU Regulation (EU) 10/2011 compliance.
  • Moisture-proof bags and clean, dry containers; contamination complaints are the most common claim.
How to start small

Polymer exports run through producers and their authorised distributors. A newcomer can become a distributor or buy from one, then sell to plastics processors in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or East Africa, full container loads on LC.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Prices follow crude oil and Asian benchmarks; quotes go stale within days.
  • Selling off-grade or recycled material as prime grade.
  • Wet or torn bags from poor stuffing — use liners and dunnage.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 3901 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. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site

Trade data

Indian plastic raw materials (polymers) exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 1.84 bn
-7.5% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -14.8%
US$ 2.16 bn → US$ 1.84 bn
Buyer countries
142
Average export price
US$ 1.34
per kg · 1.38 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 1.31 the year before
Nepal: US$ 175 mnUnited States of America: US$ 138 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 115 mnChina: US$ 93.2 mnGermany: US$ 85.6 mnKenya: US$ 79.1 mnBangladesh: US$ 66.9 mnSingapore: US$ 64.8 mnItaly: US$ 60.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 60 mnVietnam: US$ 57.4 mnTürkiye: US$ 54.8 mnEgypt: US$ 51.9 mnTanzania: US$ 42.2 mnCanada: US$ 39.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 34.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 31.8 mnOman: US$ 28.9 mnAlgeria: US$ 28.1 mnJapan: US$ 26.9 mnNigeria: US$ 23.6 mnNetherlands: US$ 23.3 mnMexico: US$ 22.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 22.4 mnThailand: US$ 22.4 mnNepal: US$ 175 mnNepalUnited States of America: US$ 138 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 115 mnUnited Arab EmiratesChina: US$ 93.2 mnChinaGermany: US$ 85.6 mnGermanyKenya: US$ 79.1 mnKenyaBangladesh: US$ 66.9 mnSingapore: US$ 64.8 mnItaly: US$ 60.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 60 mnVietnam: US$ 57.4 mnTürkiye: US$ 54.8 mnEgypt: US$ 51.9 mnTanzania: US$ 42.2 mnCanada: US$ 39.1 mnSri Lanka: US$ 34.1 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 31.8 mnOman: US$ 28.9 mnAlgeria: US$ 28.1 mnJapan: US$ 26.9 mnNigeria: US$ 23.6 mnNetherlands: US$ 23.3 mnMexico: US$ 22.7 mnIndonesia: US$ 22.4 mnThailand: US$ 22.4 mnIndia
Where Indian plastic raw materials (polymers) goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 2.73 bn2.7k2020-212021-22: US$ 3.26 bn3.3k2021-222022-23: US$ 2.35 bn2.3k2022-232023-24: US$ 2.01 bn2.0k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.16 bn2.2k2024-252025-26: US$ 1.84 bn1.8k2025-26
India’s plastic raw materials (polymers) exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2020-21 — a 69% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.91 per kg0.912021-22: US$ 1.42 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.53 per kg1.532024-25: US$ 1.31 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.34 per kg1.342020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian plastic raw materials (polymers) · 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$ 2.73 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 3.26 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 2.35 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 2.01 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.16 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 1.84 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 1.68 bn (US$ 1.42 bn – US$ 1.99 bn)1.7k2026-272027-28: US$ 1.53 bn (US$ 1.27 bn – US$ 1.84 bn)1.5k2027-28
India’s plastic raw materials (polymers) exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 1.53 bn

Likely range US$ 1.27 bn to US$ 1.84 bn.

Trend
-9.1% a year
Fit (R²)
0.73
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
1NepalUS$ 175 mn+2.7%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 138 mn+4.1%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 115 mn-17.2%
4ChinaUS$ 93.2 mn-44.5%
5GermanyUS$ 85.6 mn+4%
6KenyaUS$ 79.1 mn+43.5%
7BangladeshUS$ 66.9 mn-47.3%
8SingaporeUS$ 64.8 mn-29.4%
9ItalyUS$ 60.1 mn+15.1%
10Saudi ArabiaUS$ 60 mn-23.6%
11VietnamUS$ 57.4 mn-56.1%
12TürkiyeUS$ 54.8 mn-37.3%

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. CanadaUS$ 8.7 mn → US$ 39.1 mn+346.9%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 10.6 mn → US$ 23.3 mn+118.8%
  3. TanzaniaUS$ 25.2 mn → US$ 42.2 mn+67.7%
  4. KenyaUS$ 55.1 mn → US$ 79.1 mn+43.5%
  5. AlgeriaUS$ 20.7 mn → US$ 28.1 mn+36.1%
  6. United KingdomUS$ 27 mn → US$ 31.8 mn+17.8%
  7. ItalyUS$ 52.2 mn → US$ 60.1 mn+15.1%

Low demand

  1. VietnamUS$ 131 mn → US$ 57.4 mn-56.1%
  2. DjiboutiUS$ 19.1 mn → US$ 9.4 mn-50.6%
  3. BangladeshUS$ 127 mn → US$ 66.9 mn-47.3%
  4. IsraelUS$ 38 mn → US$ 21 mn-44.8%
  5. ChinaUS$ 168 mn → US$ 93.2 mn-44.5%
  6. IndonesiaUS$ 36.8 mn → US$ 22.4 mn-39.1%
  7. TürkiyeUS$ 87.3 mn → US$ 54.8 mn-37.3%
  8. JapanUS$ 40.8 mn → US$ 26.9 mn-34%

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
Propylene, other olefin polymers, polypropylene in primary forms — polypropylene3902 10 00US$ 240 mn-36.3%2,44,049 tonnesUS$ 0.98 per kgwas US$ 1.03
Poly, in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higher — other primary form3907 61 90US$ 230 mn-28.4%2,64,078 tonnesUS$ 0.87 per kgwas US$ 0.96
Halogenated olefin polymers, fluoro-polymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, in primary forms — polytetrafluoroethylene3904 61 00US$ 134 mn+3.3%11,860 tonnesUS$ 11.26 per kgwas US$ 10.50
Others-of-other: poly(ethylene terephthalate)3907 69 90 · Poly, in primary forms, having a viscosity of less than 78ml/gUS$ 122 mn-3.2%1,28,805 tonnesUS$ 0.94 per kgwas US$ 1.02
Polyethylene hvng a spcfc grvty 0.94 /more3901 20 00 · Ethylene polymers, in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or moreUS$ 111 mn-22.4%1,16,087 tonnesUS$ 0.96 per kgwas US$ 0.97
Halogenated olefin polymers, fluoro-polymers, in primary forms — other fluro-polymers3904 69 90US$ 97.5 mn-7.1%4,631 tonnesUS$ 21.06 per kgwas US$ 23.59
Linear low density polyethylene (lldpe)3901 40 10 · Ethylene polymers, in primary forms, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less…US$ 96.9 mn-45.6%1,08,067 tonnesUS$ 0.90 per kgwas US$ 0.95
Epoxide resins, in primary forms — epoxy resins3907 30 10US$ 96 mn+57.2%40,121 tonnesUS$ 2.39 per kgwas US$ 2.41
Other polyethylene hvng a spfc grvty < 0.943901 10 90 · Ethylene polymers, in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94US$ 91.5 mn+23.8%59,209 tonnesUS$ 1.54 per kgwas US$ 1.59
Linear l0w density p0lyethylene (lldpe)3901 10 10 · Ethylene polymers, in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94US$ 67.8 mn+3.6%62,819 tonnesUS$ 1.08 per kgwas US$ 1.08
Others-of-others-of-polyacetals, other polyethers and epoxide resins,3907 29 90 · Polyethers other than polyacetals, and bis methylphosphonate, in primary formsUS$ 66.5 mn-29%6,429 tonnesUS$ 10.34 per kgwas US$ 13.56
Poly, in primary forms, having a viscosity of less than 78ml/g — pet flake (chip)3907 69 30US$ 60.6 mn-15.3%57,033 tonnesUS$ 1.06 per kgwas US$ 1.03
Others-of-other polyesters (saturated)3907 99 00 · Polyesters in heading no. 3907, saturated, in primary formsUS$ 55.5 mn+7.6%26,674 tonnesUS$ 2.08 per kgwas US$ 2.20
Others-of-other polymersof ethyline in primary forms3901 90 00 · Ethylene polymers, in primary forms in heading no. 3901US$ 54 mn-4.1%28,052 tonnesUS$ 1.92 per kgwas US$ 1.97

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$ 232.5 bn
2023
India among exporters
#21
of 150 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.9%
US$ 1.93 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 221.9 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1USAUS$ 31.1 bn 13.9%
  2. 2ChinaUS$ 19.5 bn 8.7%
  3. 3Rep. of KoreaUS$ 19.1 bn 8.6%
  4. 4Saudi ArabiaUS$ 15.3 bn 6.8%
  5. 5GermanyUS$ 14.1 bn 6.3%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 11.1 bn 5%
  7. 7Other Asia, nesUS$ 8.93 bn 4%
  8. 8SingaporeUS$ 8.44 bn 3.8%
  9. 9ThailandUS$ 7.77 bn 3.5%
  10. 10BelgiumUS$ 7.56 bn 3.4%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 36.5 bn 15.7%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 13.4 bn 5.8%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 13.3 bn 5.7%
  4. 4USAUS$ 12.4 bn 5.3%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 9.82 bn 4.2%
  6. 6TürkiyeUS$ 9.28 bn 4%
  7. 7MexicoUS$ 8.82 bn 3.8%
  8. 8Viet NamUS$ 7.67 bn 3.3%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 6.48 bn 2.8%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 6.47 bn 2.8%

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.

ChinaUS$ 34.8 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 34.5 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 13 bnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 12.9 bn
GermanyUS$ 12.9 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 12.8 bn
VietnamUS$ 9.74 bnIndia 1.2% · gap US$ 9.63 bn
ItalyUS$ 9.54 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 9.49 bn
FranceUS$ 6.35 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 6.35 bn
IndonesiaUS$ 5.48 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 5.43 bn
United KingdomUS$ 4.82 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 4.8 bn
CanadaUS$ 4.7 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 4.7 bn
SpainUS$ 4.7 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 4.68 bn

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 plastic raw materials (polymers)

India has large, modern refinery-petrochemical complexes and exports polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and PET when domestic supply allows, mainly to neighbouring and African markets. The Middle East, the USA, South Korea and Singapore are the big polymer exporters, and China is both the biggest buyer and a fast-growing producer. Demand comes from packaging, pipes, consumer goods, vehicles and textiles. Openings for smaller exporters are as distributors to processors in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and East Africa, and in specialty resins and compounds.

  1. 01Secure supply

    Become or buy from an authorised distributor of an Indian producer.

  2. 02Find processors

    Film, pipe and moulding units in nearby markets.

  3. 03Match grades

    Map their current imported grades to Indian equivalents.

  4. 04Quote

    Price on the day, short validity, CIF or FOB.

  5. 05Load and inspect

    Clean, dry containers; check bag condition and lot numbers.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill; claim RoDTEP and drawback.

  7. 07Payment

    LC at sight or advance; polymer margins are thin, so avoid credit risk.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting plastic raw materials (polymers)

Do polymers need REACH registration?
Polymers themselves are exempt, but their monomers and additives must be registered; EU buyers will ask for confirmation.
Which council?
PLEXCONCIL (all plastics products including raw materials).
What RoDTEP applies?
LDPE and LLDPE carry 1.5% capped at ₹1 per kg; polypropylene 1.4%; most PVC, polystyrene and PET lines 1.3%.
Can I export recycled plastic granules?
Recycled granules and plastic scrap have separate ITC(HS) entries and environmental rules; check them on DGFT first.
Why do quotes expire so fast?
Polymer prices follow crude oil, naphtha and Asian benchmarks that move weekly.
Sources (6)
  1. PLEXCONCIL (Plastics Export Promotion Council) — official site
  2. ECHA — Understanding REACH
  3. European Commission — Food contact materials
  4. CIPET — Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology
  5. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  6. 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

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