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Source: India will monitor Chinese imports of steel before deciding further curbs.

India will continue to monitor the?steel? imports until at least two more months, before deciding whether or not further measures are required to reduce the flow of shipments from China. A source with first-hand knowledge said that India would be monitoring the?steel? imports until at least two?more?months.

New Delhi imposed an import tariff of three years on certain products in December to stop cheap shipments from China.

India, which is the second largest crude steel producer in the world, was a net importer of finished steel for the?second consecutive month in May. Imports totaled 0.7 million metric tonnes, which was above the average over the past?six-month period, according to a government document.

The government report stated that exports of finished steel were 0.5 million metric tons in May, which was below the average for the past six months.

The source declined to identify herself due to the sensitive nature the issue.

Source: There is no decision on whether anti-dumping dutys or other measures will be taken.

The federal Ministry of Steel failed to respond to an email requesting comments.

China's imports reached a two-year high in April. In April, China’s finished steel exports from India to China more than doubled. They were the highest they had been for at least two years. This led to concerns from India's steelmakers, who were concerned that the imposition of import duties had not been enough to protect them against cheap imports.

Sources said that the steel ministry also requested that the finance ministry remove a provisional antidumping duty on low ash metallurgical coal, a raw material for steelmaking. However, no final decision had been made. India's steel ministry made the request, citing insufficient domestic supplies and high prices, according to a government report.

The Finance Ministry did not reply to an email seeking comment. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; reporting by Neha Arora)

(source: Reuters)