Established in 1956, the State Trading Corporation (STC) is an international trading house owned by the Government of India that arranges the import of essential goods into India, including edible oils, sugar, wheat, and hydrocarbons. The STC exports a wide variety of both agricultural commodities and manufactured products, including various chemicals and agrochemicals. The STC also helps Indian manufacturers find markets overseas for their products.

In 1989, the STC shipped 60 tons of thionyl chloride to Iran. Reportedly, Transpek Private Ltd., an Indian company, sold the chemical to the STC. Thionyl chloride is a potential precursor chemical for nerve agent or possibly mustard gas.

Sources:
[1] The State Trading Corporation Ltd., "About Us," www.stcofindia.org;
[2] The State Trading Corporation Ltd., "Exports from India," www.stcofindia.org;
[3] "Ship Bound for Iran May Be Halted," Los Angeles Times, 1 July 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, www.lexis-nexis.com.