Aluminium firms seek cut in input duties as production costs, imports swell

Industry is dogged by inverted duty structure. While calcined petroleum coke import suffers 10%, finished aluminium attracts 7.5% duty. Caustic soda lye import is taxed at 7.5% versus 5% on alumina

Unnerved by rising imports and hike in cost of metal production, aluminium producers have demanded overcoming anomalies in the duty structure by slashing duties on critical inputs.

With steep import duties of critical inputs rendering finished aluminium products uncompetitive in international markets, manufacturers have urged the Government of India ahead of Budget for FY21 to slash taxes on essential ingredients.

The aluminium companies represented through the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) have called for cutting import duties on four key inputs- calcined petroleum (CP) coke, caustic soda lye, aluminium fluoride and