Indian met coke industry faces crisis; Asks government to save jobs

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Indian met coke industry faces crisis; Asks government to save jobs

Indian met coke industry faces crisis; Asks government to save jobs

Industry News
Nov 04,24

Met coke, derived from coal carbonisation, is a crucial input for steel-making and industries like ferroalloys, foundries, nickel, and automotive manufacturing.

Indian met coke industry faces crisis; Asks government to save jobs

India’s metallurgical coke (met coke) industry is grappling with severe challenges, according to the Indian Metallurgical Coke Manufacturers Association (IMCOM), driven by a surge in low-cost imports from China and Indonesia. The influx has destabilized the domestic market, putting the industry and its 1.5 lakh workers in over 100 plants at risk, IMCOM stated.

Met coke, derived from coal carbonisation, is a crucial input for steel-making and industries like ferroalloys, foundries, nickel, and automotive manufacturing. Asim Agarwalla, Vice-President, IMCOM, highlighted that met coke’s foundational role in these sectors underscores the urgent need for support, as Free Trade Agreements (FTA) have enabled foreign imports to threaten domestic production. "Since January 2022, imports from China and Indonesia have surged, rising 12.5 times, undermining local operations," Agarwalla explained.

IMCOM has approached the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which in April 2024 recommended Quantitative Restrictions (QR) on met coke imports for a year. Despite support from the Ministry of Coal, these recommendations have yet to be implemented. According to estimates, imports from Indonesia and China have already exceeded DGTR’s recommended levels by 1950% and 620% respectively in FY24-25, causing job losses, plant closures, and a reduction in production capacity across plants, particularly in Odisha, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.

IMCOM urges the government, through the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to act swiftly to enforce QR restrictions to stabilise the sector and protect jobs.

(The Hindu)