India extends curbs on low-ash met coke imports for six more months

India has extended import curbs on low-ash metallurgical coke, a key steelmaking input, from July 1 to December 31, 2025, to regulate supply and trade

The government has decided to continue restrictions on the import of low-ash metallurgical coke, an essential material used in steel production, for another six months, according to a Reuters report.

 

According to an official notification issued on Monday: “The updated order, effective July 1, 2025, will remain in place until December 31, 2025.”

 

Low-ash metallurgical coke plays a crucial role in the steelmaking process and is also used in several other industrial applications. 

Leading steel producers such as ArcelorMittal Nippon India and JSW Steel have expressed concerns over the ongoing restrictions on low-ash metallurgical coke imports, according to the Reuters report. They say these curbs are making it harder to source specific grades needed for their operations, potentially affecting their expansion efforts.

 

In April, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called on domestic steel manufacturers to rely more on locally produced met coke.

 

Meanwhile, the government has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of low-ash met coke from several countries, including Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia, after a request from an industry association.

 

Over the past four years, India’s imports of low-ash met coke have more than doubled. Key suppliers include China, Japan, Indonesia, Poland, and Switzerland. 

MIP extended on soda ash

In another notification, the Indian government extended the minimum import price (MIP) on soda ash until the end of this year.

 

In a move aimed at protecting domestic manufacturers, the government has continued the minimum import price of ₹20,108 per tonne on soda ash imports, according to a report by The Economic Times. “Minimum import price (MIP) @ Rs 20108 per ton on import of disodium carbonated (soda ash) has been extended upto December 31, 2025,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) stated in its notification.

 

Soda ash, also known as disodium carbonate, is a key raw material used across various sectors such as glass production, detergents, and chemical manufacturing.