India unlikely to add new steel import curbs, despite rising imports

India's steel ministry is unlikely to push for new measures against cheap steel imports in the near term, turning down a request from domestic steelmakers, according to a government source quoted by Reuters on 7 October 2026 (source 1).

• India imported 3.5 million tonnes of finished steel in April–August 2026, up 29.5 % on a year earlier; China supplied 31.8 % (source 1).
• A safeguard duty on some grades, imposed last December for three years, currently stands at 11.5 %. An analyst said a mill had petitioned to raise it above 20 %; the source said no increase is planned because steel prices are already high (source 1).
• An anti-dumping investigation into hot-rolled steel from China, Japan and Russia has been open since June (source 1).
• Mills have recently raised prices, citing higher coking coal costs and demand from infrastructure and automotive after the monsoon (source 1).

What this means for buyers

For fabricators in India, the duty level looks stable for now, but domestic prices are rising and the hot-rolled anti-dumping case is still open. Practical steps:

• Re-check material prices before fixed-price quotes, and watch the outcome of the hot-rolled investigation.
• Material efficiency pays. Tight nesting, common-line cutting and a narrow kerf reduce scrap — see our cost per part calculator.
• Importing a machine? Steel safeguard duties cover steel products; a machine has its own tariff line — check that and the power supply first.

Sources

1. Reuters, via Engineering News, “India steel ministry unlikely to seek new curbs on cheap imports, government source says” (7 October 2026) — www.engineeringnews.co.za (published 2026-10-07) (accessed 2026-10-26)

This news item summarises public sources in our own words; it is not legal or tax advice.

All news · Articles