What it is
Made from methanol, sold as 37% formalin. Mainly turned into urea-, phenol- and melamine-formaldehyde resins for plywood, laminates and moulding powder.
Formalin 37%Paraformaldehyde (solid)
Where India produces it
Where imports come from
Self-sufficient: production 359.0 thousand tonnes against consumption of 328.8 thousand tonnes in 2024-25 (DCPC); imports are negligible.
Rules before you buy or sell
- Formaldehyde is listed in Schedule 1 of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical (MSIHC) Rules, 1989. Above the threshold quantities, a unit must notify authorities, keep safety data sheets and an on-site emergency plan.
- No Quality Control Order for formaldehyde appears on the BIS compulsory-certification list (checked 18 Oct 2026).
Storage and handling
Toxic and irritating. Store formalin in stainless-steel or HDPE tanks at 20–35 °C (it forms solids when cold), in a ventilated area.
Sources (4)
- Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance 2025, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals (Tables 3, 5, 8, 10, 16, 17, 20, 28)
- Directory of Chemical & Petrochemical Units 2022-23 (large and medium units), Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals · 2023
- Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 (as amended up to 2000), Schedule 1 — copy hosted by Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers, Goa · 1989
- BIS — Products under compulsory certification, Scheme-I (QCO list with amendment and rescind orders; page updated 24 Sep 2026) · 2026