For the first eight months of the fiscal year ending in March 2025 showed that India’s finished steel imports from China, according to provisional government data, say reports.
The surge has raised concerns among domestic steel producers about the impact of low-cost imports from China.
In response, the government has launched an investigation to determine whether a safeguard duty or temporary tax should be imposed to curb the influx of steel imports.
The inquiry follows a petition from the Indian Steel Association, which represents major producers such as ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd, JSW Steel Ltd, and Jindal Steel and Power. The petition calls for action on imports of “Non-Alloy and Alloy Steel Flat Products.”
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies, part of the Ministry of Trade, announced the investigation in a notice dated December 19. The agency cited “recent, sudden, sharp, and significant increases in imports” as sufficient grounds for initiating the inquiry.
Provisional government data for the first eight months of the fiscal year ending in March 2025 showed that India’s finished steel imports from China reached a record high, raising concerns among domestic mills about the impact of inexpensive shipments from China.
Overall, finished steel imports into India reached an eight-year high, making the country—despite being the world’s second-largest crude steel producer—a net importer of finished steel during this period.
Steel imports from Japan also surged, hitting a six-year high with volumes more than doubling to 1.4 million metric tonnes. Together, China, Japan, and South Korea accounted for 79% of India’s total finished steel imports.
Hot-rolled coils were the most imported steel product, while bars and rods led the non-flat product category. The investigation could lead to measures aimed at protecting the domestic steel industry from the growing pressure of international competition.