G/SG/N/6/IND/31  
 
1 May 2013  
(13-2321)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Safeguards  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
SAFEGUARDS ON INITIATION OF AN INVESTIGATION AND  
THE REASONS FOR IT 
INDIA 
(Sodium Nitrite) 
The following communication, dated 29 April 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of India. 
 
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1. Date of initiation of Investigation  
17 April 2013. 
 2. Product subject to Investigation and the Precise description of the product 
involved 
 The product involved is “Sodium Nitrite”, classified under Customs sub-heading No. 28341010 under the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. 
 
3. Evidence of  Serious Injury  and th reat thereof caused by increased import 
 
The increased imports of Sodium Nitrite have caused and are threatening to cause serious injury to 
the domestic producers of Sodium Nitrite as indicated by the following factors: 
 
a) The domestic production has fallen from 30473 MT in 2010-11 to 29283 MT in 2012-13 
(Annualised).  
 b) Capacity utilization of the domestic industry has declined significantly in the most recent 
period, from 98% in 2010-11 to 71% in 2012-13. 
 c) Market share of domestic producer has fallen significantly. Domestic producer had a market 
share of 57% in 2010-11 which fell to 52% during 2011-12. The market share of the 
domestic producer further declined to 44% in 2012-13. The market share of import increases from 33% in 2010-11 to 45% in 2012-13. 
 
d) The inventories have increased to 838MT in 2012-13 from 170 MT in 2009-10.  e) Though the sales of the domestic industry  increased in 2010-11 as compared to the 
year 2009-10, it declined from 22673 MT in 2010-11 to 19953 MT in 2012-13 (Annualised). 
This decline in sales is despite the fact that the demand increased from 39715 MT in 2010-11 to 44850 MT in 2012-13. This clearly shows that the domestic industry suffered loss in 
sales, market share and steep rise in inventory caused by increased imports.  
 G/SG/N/6/IND/31 
 
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  4. Information on whether there is an absol ute increase in import or increase in 
import relative to domestic production 
 Sodium Nitrite is imported into India from a number of countries, and primarily from China and 
Germany. The imports of Sodium Nitrite have shown an increasing trend in absolute terms as well 
as compared to the total production. The imports and production of Sodium Nitrite during financial year 2009-10 to 2012-13 (Annualised) remained as under: 
 
Financial 
Year Total 
Imports (MT) All India 
Production (MT) Total 
Demand(MT)
 % of Increase in import with respect to production 
2009-10 14290 33191 39771 43 
2010-11 12915 34600 39715 37 
2011-12 14909 34605 40777 43 
2012-13 (Annualised) 20397 33783 44850 60 
 
It would be evident from above that Imports have increased from 14290 MT in 2009-10 to 20397 
MT in 2012-13 (Annualised) which shows an increase of 43%. Further the import with respect to total production increased from 37% in 2010-11 to 60% in 2012-13 (Annualised).   
5. Further information 
 The notice of initiation of safeguard investigation was published in gazette of India on 
17 April 2013. 
 6. All interested parties may make their views known within a period of 30 days from the date 
of the notice of initiation of investigation to:  
 
The Directorate General (Safeguards) Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan: 2nd Floor, 
Bhai Vir Singh Marg, 
Gole Market,New Delhi -110001, INDIA Telefax:011-23741542 
e-mail: dgsafeuards@nic.in  
 
7. All known interested parties are also being addressed separately. 
 
8. Any other party to the investigation who wishes to be considered as an interested party may 
submit its request so as to reach the Director General (Safeguards) on the aforesaid address within 21 days from the date of the notice of initiation of investigation. 
 
 
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