'Exempt all stainless steel imports above 1250mm width from any further duty'

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SME Times News Bureau | 07 Jul, 2017
The Process Plant and Machinery Association of India (PPMAI), which represents the Capital goods and Process Equipment manufacturing and exporting industry in the country, has written a letter to Secretary, Union Ministry of steel to exempt stainless steel imports above 1250mm width for all grades which are currently not being manufactured in the country from any further duty so that the capital goods industries operations continue without any unease.

PPMAI said it is an extremely valid issues which will ensure success of Make in India order issued by the Union Ministry of Stainless Steel. Association informed that the Capital Goods industry, SMEs and MSMEs need products in all grades and sizes in stainless steel for manufacturing Capital equipment for domestic and global markets.

"The demand from Capital goods industry is for new age grades and sizes beyond 1250mm width. Infact the industry is buying stainless steel coils and plates in widths as high as 3200mm wide which the domestic industry can not manufacture. The domestic industry can supply the most common grades like 304 and 316 upto 1600mm width only and there are severe limitations in thickness capabilities too," said V.P. Ramachandran, Secretary, Process Plnat and Machinery Association of India (PPMAI) in his letter to steel Secretary Aruna Sharma.

"This width is ascertained as the domestic capability by the Director General of Anti-Dumping (DGAD) vide their order in 2015 as well. You can review this exemption decision whenever the domestic capabilities are enhanced in future based on the feedback from downstream industry," he said.

"A blanket ban on imports of stainless steel products , which are our raw materials, will pose serious barriers to our cost effective operations as well as handicap us for global access to markets which are discerning when it comes to quality and cost. The Capital Goods industry, SMEs and MSMEs need products in all grades and sizes in stainless steel for manufacturing Capital equipment for domestic and global markets," Ramachandran Said.

"The domestic stainless steel industry is mostly manufacturing low end grades of stainless steel and that too are not conforming to any international or national standards. This is as high as 65-70 percent of the Indian market" he added.

The Indian Capital Goods Sector, presently with an output of Rs. 2,50,000/- crores, contributing nearly 2 percent to the Indian GDP and creating over 10 million employment, still remains sub-scale.

Our Government, realizing the vast potential the Capital Goods Sector offers in skillful employment has set very clear objective that by the year 2025, Capital Goods Sector should create an output of Rs.7,50,000/- crores and create employment to over 30 million, PPMAI said in its press release.

Process Plant and Machinery Association of India (PPMAI) is a 53 years old Association representing the Process Plant Manufacturers all over India which includes corporates like Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Godrej, Thermax Ltd., Praj Industries Ltd., Aker Solutions, TUV India , Toyo Engineering India, ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (UHDE), Ion Exchange and BGR Energy Systems Ltd.