India’s Steel Ministry Pushes For Cheaper Coke: Calls To Remove Tariffs On Low Ash Met Coke

Why Low Ash Met Coke Matters

Low ash metallurgical coke (ash below 18 percent) is critical for blast furnace operations because it improves efficiency, reduces impurities and supports higher quality steel output.

Over the last year, New Delhi layered quantitative restrictions and then provisional anti dumping duties of about 60 to 130 dollars per tonne on imports from major suppliers such as China, Australia, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan and Russia.

Policy Backdrop And Steel Ministry’s Position

Initially, parts of the government, including the steel ministry, had backed curbs and quotas on low ash met coke imports to encourage domestic production.

However, persistent complaints from steelmakers about elevated input costs and quality gaps in local coke have led the ministry to shift tack, now urging the finance ministry to roll back tariffs to ensure adequate, competitively priced supplies.

Recent Changes In Import Regime

In early 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) removed import restrictions on low ash met coke once the finance ministry cleared provisional anti dumping duties, reclassifying the product from “restricted” to “free” import under key HS codes.

The steel ministry’s latest push to withdraw tariffs fits into this evolving policy mix and, if accepted, could further ease landed costs for steel mills while leaving trade defence tools to tackle unfair pricing.

Policy And Trade Highlights

• Low ash metallurgical coke imports have faced quotas, restrictions and anti dumping duties since 2025.
• DGFT has already liberalised the import policy, allowing free import subject to duties.
• Steel ministry has previously opposed strict import limits due to quality and availability concerns.
• Current request targets withdrawal of tariffs to cut input costs for domestic steelmakers.

Sources: DGFT, Drishti IAS, Economic Times, Yahoo Finance, KNN India, ScanX