India Tightens Soda Ash, Met Coke Import Rules

India has extended the minimum import price (MIP) of Rs 20,108 per ton on soda ash imports until December 31, 2025, and prolonged country-specific quantitative restrictions on low-ash metallurgical coke imports, limiting total imports to 1.4 million tons for July-December 2025 from countries including Australia, China, and Russia. Imports of low-ash metallurgical coke will now be allowed only through designated ports to enable real-time quota monitoring. The government has also initiated an anti-dumping investigation into met coke imports from several key supplier countries. These measures are designed to support domestic industries but have raised concerns among steel producers who need imported coke for certain grades not readily available in India. Soda ash and low-ash met coke are vital inputs for the glass, detergent, chemical, and steel industries. The government aims to balance industrial stability and import management with these new rules.