Shellac Supplier to Vietnam — Form AI & Import Guide
Vietnam buys Indian shellac for pharmaceutical tablet coating, footwear and leather, furniture finishing and food. Here is which grade each industry uses, how Form AI under the ASEAN–India FTA cuts import duty, and how small and bulk lots are shipped.
- Indian shellac can enter Vietnam at a preferential duty under AIFTA with a valid Form AI certificate of origin.
- India is not in RCEP; never use an RCEP certificate for Indian goods.
- Main buyers: pharmaceutical manufacturers, footwear and leather, furniture exporters, food and packaging coating.
- Ports: Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) in the south, Hai Phong in the north.
- Lac and shellac are classified under HS 1301.90.
Who buys shellac in Vietnam
| Pharmaceutical manufacturers | Tablet coating and polishing · dewaxed bleached (refined bleached) shellac tested to EP or USP, lots of a few hundred kilos |
| Footwear and leather | Finishing and stiffening in shoe manufacturing · orange shellac flakes, regular volumes |
| Furniture exporters | Sealers and French polish on export furniture · lemon, orange or blonde flakes; dewaxed grades under lacquer |
| Food and confectionery | Glazing of sweets, nuts and coated products · food-grade, wax-free bleached shellac |
| Paper and packaging | Gloss and barrier coatings · pale dewaxed grades |
Vietnam's furniture and footwear industries are clustered around Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai in the south; many pharmaceutical plants are in and around Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Form AI: reduced duty under the ASEAN–India FTA
India is not an ASEAN member, but trade between India and ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, is covered by the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA). To claim the preferential duty rate, the Vietnamese importer presents a Form AI certificate of origin issued in India.
- Check eligibility: the importer's customs broker confirms the Vietnamese tariff line for the grade and the AIFTA rate.
- Origin rule: shellac made from Indian lac normally qualifies, but the exporter confirms the origin criterion before applying.
- Apply in India: the exporter applies for Form AI through DGFT's electronic certificate-of-origin system, before or at shipment.
- Match the documents: invoice number, description, quantity and HS code on Form AI must match the invoice and bill of lading.
- Send the original or e-copy as the importer's customs requires, in time for clearance.
Without a valid Form AI the goods enter at the standard (MFN) rate, and a certificate is hard to correct after arrival. Agree it in the purchase order. More in shellac export documentation from India.
Rules by end use
- Pharmaceutical use: manufacturers working with the Drug Administration of Vietnam usually specify a pharmacopoeia grade (EP or USP) and ask for a batch COA, microbiology and residual-solvent data. See shellac for pharmaceutical tablet coating.
- Food use: food additives follow Ministry of Health rules, which use the Codex listing for shellac (INS 904). Use a food-grade, wax-free bleached lot with a batch COA. See E904 food-grade shellac.
- Industrial use: furniture, footwear and coating lots need an accurate description and a COA, but no food or drug registration.
Shipping and documents
| Ports | Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City), Hai Phong; sea from Kolkata, air for samples and urgent lots |
| Lot sizes | Pharma and food lots of a few hundred kilos usually move LCL; industrial buyers trial, then order by the container |
| Incoterms | FOB Kolkata, CFR or CIF Cat Lai / Hai Phong; see Incoterms for resin buyers |
| Documents | Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, Form AI, batch COA, SDS and TDS |
| Packing | 25 kg bags or cartons with liners; fibre drums for bleached grades. Keep below about 25 °C: tropical heat makes shellac block |
| Payment | T/T or LC at sight |
What we supply to Vietnamese buyers
We supply dewaxed bleached shellac for pharmaceutical and food coating, orange and lemon shellac flakes for footwear and furniture, dewaxed shellac for clear finishes and coatings, and seedlac for processors. Every lot ships with a batch COA from a NABL-accredited laboratory, and Form AI on request. Tell us the grade, quantity, port and end use when you request a quote.
Quick answers
Can Indian shellac get reduced import duty in Vietnam? Yes, under the ASEAN–India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA), if the goods meet the origin rule and the importer presents a valid Form AI certificate of origin issued in India.
Who issues Form AI for Indian shellac? Form AI is issued in India by the authorised agencies under the ASEAN–India FTA, through DGFT's electronic certificate-of-origin system. The exporter applies before or at shipment.
Can Indian shellac use an RCEP certificate? No. India is not part of RCEP. Indian goods use Form AI under AIFTA to claim preferential duty in ASEAN countries.
Which shellac grade do Vietnamese pharma manufacturers buy? Usually a dewaxed bleached (refined bleached) grade tested against a pharmacopoeia such as EP or USP, for tablet coating and polishing.
Which ports serve Vietnam? Ho Chi Minh City (Cat Lai) for the south and Hai Phong for the north. Small lots usually move as LCL by sea or by air for samples.
This page summarises trade practice as of October 2026. Confirm the Vietnamese tariff line, AIFTA rate and origin rules, and any registration your product needs, with your customs broker before the first shipment. It is not legal advice.
Buying Shellac for Vietnam?
Tell us the grade, quantity, port and end use. Batch COA with every lot, Form AI on request, quotes within 24 hours.