Experts call for raising duties on aluminium imports to protect domestic producers

NEW DELHI: An expert panel comprising senior civil servants, industry specialists, and media professionals called for immediate policy actions to protect local manufacturers and boost investments during a discussion on the challenges faced by India’s aluminium sector organised by Bureaucrats India.
The panel suggested increasing import tariffs on primary and downstream aluminium products to 10% while implementing a 7.5% duty on aluminium scrap, following similar measures applied to other non-ferrous metals including zinc, tin and lead.
These actions are termed essential to counter rising imports, which presently constitute 56% of local consumption, while addressing concerns about India becoming a repository for substandard aluminium. import reliance.
"India's aluminium sector is at a critical juncture. Despite having one of the world's most integrated aluminium value chains, our reliance on imports and scrap, projected to rise to 66% by FY2025, poses a severe threat to economic self-reliance and Net Zero ambitions. Strategic reforms such as higher duties up to 10% on imports and 7.5% on scrap are imperative to protect domestic manufacturers from unfair competition and sustain our global competitiveness," said Dr Jayadev Sarangi, IAS (retd) during the webinar titled "Advancing Aluminium for Atmanirbhar Bharat: Key Imperatives".
"The aluminium sector is the backbone of critical industries like infrastructure, renewable energy, defence, and electric vehicles. Its significance goes beyond production, with over 8 lakh jobs created and 4,000 SMEs supported in downstream industries. Flooding our market with low-quality and carbon-intensive aluminium not only impedes domestic growth and investments but also threatens key national projects such as Bharatmala and the 500 GW renewable energy target for 2030. Without raising duties on imports by 10% and scrap by 7.5% among other policy interventions, we risk undermining our progress," said Binod K Singh, IRS, formerly Additional Commissioner.
"Aluminium is central to national security and economic growth. Boosting domestic production is indispensable for meeting rising demand, projected to reach 9–10 MTPA by 2030, and for fostering defence self-reliance. By implementing higher duties on scrap imports, we can not only secure our industrial future but also support India's transition to a circular economy," Deba R Mohanty, Vice President at Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict.
The participants unanimously called upon the government to implement these strategic policy adjustments to address unfair trade practices, enhance domestic production and support the aluminium sector's alignment with Atmanirbhar Bharat objectives.
Bureaucrats India is an independent platform designed bring out into the public domain stories of good governance by bureaucrats across India, both at the Central and State Government levels. The initiative also tells achievements and successful administrative practices implemented by public sector organisations. Additionally, it highlights transformative stories from the business sector.