MC EXCLUSIVE India may announce $125 a tonne anti-dumping duty on met coke imports in October

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The government may announce plans to impose an anti-dumping duty of about $125 per tonne on imports of metallurgical coke (met coke), a key steelmaking ingredient, as early as the first week of October, sources told Moneycontrol. The move comes amid calls to use  resources available in the country to aid the domestic met coke producers.

Prices of imported metallurgical coke (met coke) vary depending upon the origin, freight rates and specifications. For instance, Indonesian met coke offer levels are prevailing at $230-235/tonne CFR (Cost and Freight) India while Colombian nut coke (10-30mm) at $310-330/tonne  CFR India levels, according to BigMint’s price assessment.

"The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is almost done with the probe, and an announcement is expected by the first week next month," said a person familiar with the matter.

DGTR did not immediately respond to Moneycontrol's query.

In April this year, government initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of the raw material from Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia. Domestic manufacturers allege these countries are selling met coke at unfairly low prices, harming local producers.  In January, the government also banned unrestricted imports of low-ash metallurgical coke (met coke), introducing country-specific quotas to safeguard domestic producers.

Between January and August 2025,  India’s met coke imports fell 14 per cent  year-on-year to 2.62 million tonnes (MnT) from 3.04 MnT a year earlier, but the sourcing pattern has shifted sharply.

Imports from China collapsed 73 per cent YOY to 0.26 MnT, while supplies from Japan surged six-fold to 0.30 MnT and those from Colombia rose 145 per cent to 0.35 MnT. Indonesia remained the largest supplier at 1.06 MnT, up 2 per cent YOY,  according to data compiled by BigMint.

BigMint reported that the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has officially rejected a few applications for registration certificates that sought to import a combined total of 3,40,000 tonnes of low-ash metallurgical (LAM) coke from Indonesia. The report, citing sources,  said applications submitted by JSW Steel Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amba River Coke Limited, were rejected.

According to data, JSW Steel boosted imports of met coke by nearly 50 per cent to 0.22 MnT.

Other buyers include ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India which cut purchases 10 per cent to 0.78 MnT, while Tata Steel trimmed purchases 18 per cent to 0.27 MnT.  Jindal Steel & Power scaled up more than 14-fold to 0.08 MnT, between January to August.

Overall, India’s full-year imports hit a decade high of 4.82 MnT in 2024, compared with just 2.34 MnT in 2021, data showed.

Increased costs for steel manufacturers

Any duty on the raw material could potentially increase costs for the steelmakers.  Met coke is used as a primary fuel in industries where a uniform and high temperature is required in kilns or furnaces, such as in production of pig iron, foundries, ferro alloys, chemical plants, and steel plants.

This probe was requested by the Indian Metallurgical Coke Manufacturers Association (IMCOM) on behalf of the domestic producers that account for 85 percent of the total eligible Indian production. Top producers include Visa Coke Limited, Mahalakshmi Ennore Coke, Power Private Limited, Coromandel Met Coke Industries etc.

Meanwhile, DGTR has listed Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India among the consumers/importers in the list of interested parties published last month.