Subheading · Chapter 32 · Section VI, Products of the chemical or allied industries
HS 3204 16Reactive dyes and preparations based thereon
Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks › Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined, preparations as specified in note 3 to this chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter, synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined
- Customs duty
- 7.5%
- 9 tariff items
- GST now
- 18%
- or 5% for some goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg
- Duty in China
- 4.2%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this subheading
9 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3204 16 10 | Yellows | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 20 | Oranges | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 30 | Reds | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 40 | Violets | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 50 | Blues | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 60 | Greens | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 70 | Browns | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 80 | Blacks | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
| 3204 16 90 | Other | 7.5% | 18% | kg |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 9 tariff items: 7.5%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty in force
- Anti-dumping duty on goods from China: USD 396.99–738.73 per tonne, by origin and producer (until 20 Dec 2026). Silicone Sealants excluding silicon sealants used in manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules, and thermal power applications. 74/2021-ADD
Charged on top of the duty above, only on goods from the countries named.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 9 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 18%, or 5% for some goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 18%, or 5% for some goods.
- Change: Unchanged.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 46 | Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in Note 3 to this Chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined | 18% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 242 | Wattle extract, quebracho extract, chestnut extract | 5% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3204 | Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; prepara-tions as specified in Note 3 to this Chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined | — | — |
| 320401 | AZO Black Dix (Acid Black) | 3.1% | Rs. 16 per Kg |
| 320402 | Reactive dyes | 3.5% | Rs. 27.1 per Kg |
| 320403 | Pigment violet | 3.5% | Rs. 142.3 per Kg |
| 320404 | Yellow 3 (Food colouring agent, Sunset Yellow) | 3.5% | Rs. 16.9 per Kg |
| 320405 | Sulphur black(Sulphur based colouring matter) | 2.7% | Rs. 8.2 per Kg |
| 320406 | Solvent black (Solvent based colouring matter) | 1.3% | — |
| 320407 | Optical brightener (Optical whitening agent) | 3.5% | Rs. 20.4 per Kg |
| 320499 | Others | 1.2% | — |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 9 tariff items
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 3204 16, and China's below.
China: the same goods (3204 16)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 1 in force under 3204 16. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3204.16.00.00 | Reactive dyes and preparations based thereon活性染料及以其为基本成分的制品 | 4.2%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 6.5% | 13% | 0% | None |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
Every Chinese code in full
3204.16.00Reactive dyes and preparations based thereon
3204.16.00.00Reactive dyes and preparations based thereon活性染料及以其为基本成分的制品
Whether or not chemically defined不论是否有化学定义
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 35%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 0%
- Updated by China
- 7 Sep 2026
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Use用途
- 4.Dyes, type to be specified (e.g. disperse, acid, basic dyes)染料须报明种类(分散染料、酸性染料、碱性染料等)
- 5.Packing specifications包装规格
- 6.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 7.Model型号
- 8.GTIN
- 9.CAS
- 10.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 2.6%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
- Asia-Pacific (APTA)
- 4.2%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 3.5%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3204160000999Reactive dyes and preparations based thereon (whether or not chemically defined)活性染料及以其为基本成分的制品(不论是否有化学定义)
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.