HYDERABAD: India’s dependence on imported soda ash has risen sharply, with imports up 81.3 per cent since 2021-22, raising concerns about the country’s domestic manufacturing capacity and clean energy ambitions, according to a new report.
The report, titled Soda Ash Industry in Global Value Chains: Trade Dynamics, Production Landscape, and India’s Strategic Role, was released by the Centre for Domestic Economy Policy Research (C-DEP) in collaboration with the Centre for WTO Studies (CWS) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It found that imported soda ash accounted for 22 per cent of India’s total demand in 2024-25, despite sufficient domestic production capacity. The report attributed the increase to global overcapacity, falling international prices and surplus supplies from countries including the US, China and Türkiye being redirected towards India.