Several Indian importers of high end stainless steel have strongly protested unnecessary harassment and delay in clearing of imports of various stainless steel products including HR and CR, on which Indian government has levied anti dumping duty on behest of JSL Limited by customs officials.
Mr PH Bhat Business Head of Ratanamani Metals and Tubes Limited said that “ The anti dumping duty was levied to provide protectionism to single domestic stainless steel producer even on high end stainless steel products not manufactured in the country. High grade stainless steel is importe din the country for manufacturing critical components of machinery and products for petroleum, gas, food processing and automobile industry. Customs officials in eague with the domestic manufacturer are delaying shipments from various ports in the country in the name of inspection.”
He added that “We manufacture seamless stainless steel tubes for various industries including aviation, hospitals, hotels, petroleum and gas industry and various power plants. The unnecessary delay by customs is affecting our business adversary as our clients are missing the deadlines.in their projects. The worst part is that customs officials at various ports have handed over their operations of inspection to some employees of Jindal Stainless.”
Mr Kailash Unhale production head of Alfa Laval, a company manufacturing and exporting process plant machinery for food, diary and chemical units, said that “The delay is also affecting the cost as the shipping companies are charging demurrages on delay.”
Mr YPS Suri India head of Outokumpu, a Finland based high end stainless steel manufacturing company said that “Finding ways and means to increase per capita steel consumption is the best solution for the steel industry in the country instead of anti dumping duty . Indian government has been protesting anti dumping duty and protectionism by developed nations at various forums, while in India, the government is indulging in protectionism itself to help single domestic player.”
Source : Steelguru