Tariff item · Chapter 28 · Section VI, Products of the chemical or allied industries
HS 2815 12 00Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), peroxides of sodium or potassium: in aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda)
Inorganic chemicals, organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes › In aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda)
- Customs duty
- 7.5%
- Tariff rate
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg
- Duty in China
- 3.3%
- On Indian goods
Importing into India
What customs charges, what trade agreements take off, and the rules the goods must meet.
Customs duty
| Duty | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty (BCD), MFN rate | 7.5% | Assessable value |
| Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) | Nil | Assessable value11/2021-Customs, S.No. 17 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) | 10% of BCD, AIDC and Health Cess | BCD + AIDC |
| Integrated GST (IGST) | 5% or 18% | Assessable value + BCD + AIDC + SWS |
Lower duty under trade agreements
| Agreement | Customs duty | Goods from |
|---|---|---|
| Duty-free tariff preference for LDCs | 0% | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Cambodia, Comoros, Laos, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Chad, Togo, Timor-Leste, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia |
| India–Japan CEPA | 0% | Japan |
| India–Sri Lanka FTA | 0% | Sri Lanka |
| SAFTA | 0% | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal |
| ASEAN–India FTA | 5% | Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |
| India–Malaysia CECA | 5% | Malaysia |
| SAFTA | 5% | Sri Lanka |
| India–EFTA TEPA51/2025-Customs | 5.36% | Switzerland, Liechtenstein |
| India–EFTA TEPA52/2025-Customs | 6% | Norway |
| India–UK CETA29/2026-Customs | 6.8% | United Kingdom |
Goods from Pakistan pay 200%.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 20 Oct 2026. 2 earlier measures have ended.
Clearance by other agencies
- Bureau Of Indian Standards (BIS): a clearance or certificate before the goods arrive, under The Bureau Of Standards Act,1986,The Bureau Of Standards Rules 1987.
Documents: Registration Certificate (BIS).
"* BIS Standard no. is 252:2013 is applicable on caustic soda. goods shall bear a standard mark under a licence from the bureau of indian standards. refer bureau of indian standard (caustic soda) order, 2018 [s.o no. 1468(e) dated 03.04.2018] & general note 2 of policy.*Ensure compliance of CBIC circular 23/2023-CUS DT 30-09-23 for mandatory additional qualifiers in import declarations for commodities under CH 28,29,32,39 and cth 3808 as stipulated in para 4.1 and 4.2 wef 15-10-23**"
From Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Compliance Information Portal.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS))
- Free.
Notes on these rates
- BCD is the statutory tariff rate from a one-time snapshot of the Indian Trade Portal. Exemption notifications (such as 45/2025-Customs) and tariff changes made after the snapshot, including the Finance Act 2026 changes from 1 May 2026, are not applied.
- IGST comes from our archived GST table, which still has the 12% and 28% slabs, so it may pre-date the GST rate changes of 22 September 2025. Check the current rate.
- AIDC, Health Cess and the SWS exemptions are read from notifications 11/2021-Customs, 08/2020-Customs and 11/2018-Customs as amended (to 16/2026-Customs), and the notifications that lower AIDC for a while. SWS is 10% of BCD, AIDC and Health Cess together (Finance Act 2018, s.110), never of anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard duty or IGST.
- AIDC is Nil (S.No. 17 of 11/2021-Customs, which exempts all goods it does not name).
- Not included: GST compensation cess, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, and exemptions or concessions such as end-use, EOU/SEZ or project imports.
- This does not check whether the import is allowed (DGFT import policy, licences, quality-control orders). The HS code explorer shows the import policy.
- This is an estimate, not an assessment. Confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE's duty calculator before you price a deal.
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 5% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 5%, 12% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 210 | Thorium oxalate, Enriched KBF4 (enriched potassium fluroborate), Enriched elemental boron, Nuclear fuel | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 211 | Anaesthetics, Potassium Iodate, Iodine, Steam | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 221 | Micronutrients, which are covered under serial number 1(g) of Schedule 1, Part (A) of the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and are manufactured by the manufacturers which are registered under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 35 | All inorganic chemicals [other than those specified in notification No.10/2025- Central Tax (Rate) dated 17th September 2025 or other Schedules of this notification] | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 5%, 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2815 | Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda); potassium hydroxide (caustic potash); peroxides of sodium or potassium | 1% | — |
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 20 Oct 2026.
Export incentives (RoDTEP and RoSCTL)
- RoDTEP, Appendix 4R (exports from the domestic tariff area): 0.8% of the FOB value, until 31 Dec 2026.
- RoDTEP, Appendix 4RE (exports under Advance Authorisation, EOU or SEZ): 0.5% of the FOB value, until 31 Dec 2026.
Clearance by other agencies
- Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDRUG): a clearance or certificate before export, under The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1945 amended vide The Drugs and Cosmetics(Amendment) Act ,2008 and Rules, 1945.
*FOR DRUGS AND PHARMACEUTICALS CDSCO NOC IS REQD EXCEPT WHEN EXEMPTED.REF-DCGI/MISC/2015(199) ORDER DTD 21.3.18* AS PER CIR NO.47/2017-CUS DTD 27/11/2017 FOR THE PURPOSE OF GRANT OF DRAWBACK WHEREVER EXPORT CONSIGNMENTS ARE SELECTED FOR ASSESSMENT OR EXAMINATION.THE AC/DC SHALL DETERMINE THE NEED TO DRAW SAMPLE ON MERITS OF EACH CASE.IF THE PACKING IS OF WOODEN MATERIAL, ENSURE THE VALID PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE AND ISPM-15 MARKING COMPLIANCE AS PER CBEC INSTR. F.NO.450/19/2005-CUS-IV DTD 16.9.13.*
From Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Compliance Information Portal.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2)
- Free.
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 2815 12, and China's below.
China: the same goods (2815 12)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 1 in force under 2815 12. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2815.12.00.00 | Aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, liquid caustic soda氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱 | 3.3%APTA rate, with an APTA certificate of origin | 5% | 13% | 0% | ABGNM |
- 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
2815.12.00Aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide
2815.12.00.00Aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, liquid caustic soda氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 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
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
- GDual-use items and technologies export licence (targeted)两用物项和技术出口许可证(定向)
Inspection and quarantine
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
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.Source (whether from residual products from chemical wood pulping, soda or sulphate)来源(是否从碱法或硫酸盐法制木浆时所剩残余产品中)
- 5.GTIN
- 6.CAS
- 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 5%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 5.6%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- 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)
- 3.3%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 5%
- Brunei
- 5%
- Cambodia
- 5%
- Laos
- 5%
- Malaysia
- 5%
- New Zealand
- 5%
- Singapore
- 5%
- Thailand
- 5%
- Vietnam
- 5%
- Indonesia
- 5%
- Philippines
- 5%
- Myanmar
- 5%
CIQ codes
- 2815120000101Aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, liquid caustic soda (feed additives)氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱(饲料添加剂)
- 2815120000102Sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, liquid caustic soda (sodium hydroxide solution)氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱(氢氧化钠溶液)
- 2815120000301Sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, liquid caustic soda (hazardous chemical, not for use as food additive)氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱(危险化学品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2815120000302Sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, liquid caustic soda (hazardous chemical, for use as food additive)氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱(危险化学品,用作食品添加剂)
- 2815120000303Sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, liquid caustic soda (other chemicals)氢氧化钠水溶液,液体烧碱(其他化工品)
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 19 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 import tariff by origin (Indian Trade Portal snapshot)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- HS code descriptions (archived file)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- India's effective basic customs duty (notification 45/2025-Customs, Table I)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's AIDC, Health Cess and Social Welfare Surcharge exemptions (11/2021, 08/2020, 11/2018-Customs)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's preferential tariff schedules (CBIC notifications)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- RoDTEP export incentive rates (DGFT Appendix 4R and 4RE)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- RoSCTL rebate for apparel and made-ups (Ministry of Textiles): periods and ratesChecked 19 Oct 2026
- CBIC Compliance Information Portal (CIP)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.