Following claims that these nations were selling the raw material at unreasonably low rates, the government launched an anti-dumping inquiry against imports of the material from Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia in April of this year.
Anti-dumping duty likely
According to sources who spoke to Moneycontrol, the government may declare intentions as early as the first week of October to apply an anti-dumping charge of around $125 per tonne on imports of metallurgical coke, often known as “met coke,” a crucial component of steelmaking. The action follows requests to support domestic met coke producers using national resources.
The price per tonne of metallurgical coke (met coke) shipped to Hazira port in India on September 25 was $221, according to BigMint‘s pricing assessment.
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, “Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) is virtually finished with the inquiry, and an announcement is likely by the first week next month.”
Import Patterns Shift Significantly
The government opened an anti-dumping probe into raw material imports from Australia, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, and Russia in April of this year. According to domestic manufacturers, these nations are hurting local companies by supplying met coke at unreasonably cheap costs. To protect local manufacturers, the government also implemented country-specific limitations and prohibited unlimited imports of low-ash metallurgical coke, or “met coke,” in January.
India imported 2.62 million tonnes (MnT) of met coke between January and August 2025, down 14% year over year from 3.04 MnT the previous year, however the source pattern changed significantly.
Imports from Japan Surge
While supplies from Japan increased sixfold to 0.30 MnT and those from Colombia increased 145% to 0.35 MnT, imports from China fell 73% year over year to 0.26 MnT. According to statistics gathered by BigMint, Indonesia continued to be the leading contributor with 1.06 MnT, up 2% year over year.
According to BigMint, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has formally denied a few registration certificate applications that attempted to import 3,40,000 tonnes of low-ash metallurgical (LAM) coke from Indonesia. JSW Steel Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Amba River Coke Limited, had their applications denied, according to the article, which cited sources.
Data shows that JSW Steel increased met coke imports by over 50% to 0.22 MnT.
Other purchasers include Tata Steel, which reduced purchases by 18% to 0.27 MnT, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, which reduced purchases by 10% to 0.78 MnT. Between January and August, Jindal Steel & Power increased its output by more than 14 times, reaching 0.08 MnT.
According to statistics, India’s full-year imports increased from 2.34 million tons in 2021 to a decade-high of 4.82 million tons in 2024.
Cost increases for steel producers
Steelmakers may see a rise in expenses if there is any levy on the raw material. In sectors like pig iron manufacturing, foundries, ferro alloys, chemical plants, and steel plants where a consistent, high temperature is needed in kilns or furnaces, met coke is used as the main fuel.
On behalf of the domestic producers who make up 85% of all qualifying Indian output, the Indian Metallurgical Coke Manufacturers Association (IMCOM) sought this investigation. Visa Coke Limited, Mahalakshmi Ennore Coke, Power Private Limited, Coromandel Met Coke Industries, and others are among the leading manufacturers.
In the meanwhile, the list of interested companies released last month by DGTR includes Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India as consumers/importers.