Jindal Aluminium seeks government aid for downstream MSME producers, urges to remove primary aluminium import duty

Jindal Aluminium official has pointed out that China’s aluminium flat rolled products exports to India, resulting in reducing prices, is taking a severe toll on domestic downstream MSME producers. Hence, the company has urged the government to remove import duty on primary aluminium to encourage domestic value addition and help the survival of downstream aluminium MSME producers.

Jindal has also noted that demand for downstream aluminium in India is reviving after the COVID-19 pandemic impact. In late August, the company anticipated the defence and aerospace sector to become more potential in the near future, pushing up the demand for aluminium products.

Jindal Aluminium is India’s largest aluminium extrusion company having control over 30 per cent of the market share. It is also the second-largest producer of aluminium flat-rolled products with 10 to 12 per cent of the market share.

In early September, India began an anti-dumping probe against the imports of certain aluminium flat rolled products originating or exported from China based on a complaint by Hindalco Industries Limited. The company had alleged that the dumping of goods in India was injuring the country’s domestic market.

In June, India also initiated an anti-dumping probe in aluminium foils imported from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils, and Jindal Aluminium had filed the application claiming the imports were suppressing domestic prices and demand.