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Steel makers have urged the government for more measures to check rising imports from select group of countries including China which has produced 746.3 MT of crude steel in January-September period, over six-fold of the domestic output. As per global body World Steel Association (worldsteel), India has produced 122.4 MT of crude steel in January-September. While in September alone China has produced 73.5 MT of crude steel, over 5-fold higher from 13.6 MT of domestic production. As per market data, stainless steel is also unable to reach 100 per cent capacity utilisation of the total installed capacity of 7.5 million tonnes. It remains around 60 per cent only due to impact of imports. The government has taken several measures to curb the imports to protect the competitiveness of domestic steel industry. Over the past few years, the Ministry of Steel has come up with more than 100 quality control orders (QCOs) which refrain from non-BIS compliant steel products to enter the Indian .
Domestic steel prices have slumped to a five-year low, trading in the range of Rs 47,000-?48,000 per tonne impacted by multiple factors, including surging imports, as per market data from BigMint. Hot rolled coil (HRC) prices are hovering around Rs 47,150 per tonne, while re-bar (TMT) is quoted in the range of Rs 46,500-47,000 per tonne in the wholesale market. The last time prices were at such levels was in 2020, when HRC was trading at Rs 46,000/tonne levels and rebar at Rs 45,000/tonne amid the pandemic slowdown. The current decline is largely attributed to weak export demand, rising imports, and an oversupply in the global market. India's steel exports have fallen sharply, pressured by aggressive export pushes from countries like China, while imports are still active, despite several measures introduced by the government. Falling prices amid rising imports is a matter of concern as inbound shipments are increasing despite several measures introduced by the government. Taking
The commerce ministry's arm, DGTR, has recommended final imposition of a safeguard duty on imports of certain flat steel products for three years to protect domestic manufacturers from sudden jump in the inbound shipments. The duty was recommended by the directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR) in its final findings of a probe initiated on a complaint by the Indian Steel Association. Based on the preliminary findings, the government in April has already imposed a provisional 12 per cent safeguard duty for 200 days. Now in its final findings, the DGTR has concluded "that there is a recent, sudden, sharp and significant increase in imports of PUC (product under consideration) into India at the cumulative level as a result of unforeseen developments...and threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry/producers," the DGTR has said in a notification. It has recommended a 12 per cent duty in the first year, 11.5 per cent in the second, and 11 per cent in the third year.
Jindal Stainless Chairman Ratan Jindal on Wednesday urged the government to protect the industry and livelihood of people by imposing appropriate duties on surging imports from select countries. The industry leader made the remarks while addressing the Global Stainless Steel Summit (2025) in Mumbai. "Today, low-priced imports from China and Vietnam persist across numerous industries, including stainless steel. In this context, it is essential that we collectively take a stand to protect our industry, particularly MSMEs, and the livelihood of our people, by imposing appropriate duties on these countries. I request the government's continuous support in this regard," he said while addressing the gathering. Jindal said many countries with excess production disrupt the level-playing field, particularly for the MSME sector. They divert surplus stainless steel through nations with free trade agreements with India or through ASEAN countries like Vietnam. "We have all witnessed how Indian