India Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Electrical Steel Reshape Steel Trade

India Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Electrical Steel Target CRNO Imports

India anti-dumping duties on Chinese electrical steel mark a decisive trade action.
Specifically, India imposed a $223.82 per ton duty on Chinese cold-rolled non-oriented electrical steel.
Notably, the duty will remain active for five years.

According to officials, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies announced the decision through formal findings.
After investigation, DGTR concluded that dumped Chinese imports harmed domestic steelmakers.
Therefore, Indian producers requested the probe and supported the final recommendation.

Meanwhile, NDTV reported that the measure aims to stabilize local pricing.
Consequently, the decision strengthens India’s trade defenses against low-cost Chinese steel flows.

Scope of India Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Electrical Steel

Importantly, the ruling clearly defines product coverage under the trade remedy.
However, India excluded cold-rolled fully hardened silicon electrical steel from the duty.
In practice, manufacturers use this material as an input for CRNO production.

At the same time, regulators sought to protect downstream supply chains.
Accordingly, DGTR emphasized balanced enforcement without disrupting domestic manufacturing needs.
As a result, transformer and motor producers retain access to key inputs.

Steel Safeguards and Import Trends Support Policy Direction

Over the past year, India has tightened steel trade controls consistently.
For example, in April, India introduced a temporary 12% protective duty on select steel imports.
However, that safeguard targeted cheaper Chinese supplies and expired in November.

Earlier, policymakers also reviewed a structured safeguard duty of up to 12%.
Under that plan, the proposal covered three years with a gradual annual reduction.
As a result, India signaled a long-term commitment to steel market stability.

Meanwhile, official trade data showed a sharp decline in steel imports.
Specifically, India reduced rolled steel imports by 34.1% year on year.
Overall, imports reached 3.8 million tons during the first seven months of FY2025/2026.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

India anti-dumping duties on Chinese electrical steel reflect strategic industrial protection.
The policy supports domestic producers amid global steel oversupply.
Meanwhile, Chinese exporters face narrowing access to a critical growth market.
We expect regional price premiums to strengthen for electrical steel.
Consequently, Asian trade flows may redirect toward Southeast Asian markets.