India Launches Anti-Dumping Probe into Hot Rolled Steel Imports from China, Japan and Russia

India has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain hot rolled flat steel products from China, Japan and Russia, marking another significant step to safeguard the domestic steel industry from unfair trade practices.

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has begun the investigation after receiving a petition from JSW Steel Ltd, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics Ltd and Jindal Steel Odisha Ltd. The companies alleged that hot rolled flat products of alloy and non-alloy steel from the three countries are being exported to India at dumped prices, causing material injury to domestic manufacturers.

According to the notification, the DGTR found sufficient prima facie evidence indicating that the products were being imported at prices significantly lower than their normal value in the exporting countries. The authority noted that the dumping margin was above the prescribed minimum threshold, providing adequate grounds to initiate a formal anti-dumping investigation.

The investigation will examine import trends and pricing data covering the period from 2022 to 2025. During the inquiry, the DGTR will determine the existence, extent and impact of dumping on India’s steel industry before recommending whether anti-dumping duties should be imposed.

Hot rolled steel is one of the most widely used raw materials across multiple industries. It serves as a key input for automotive manufacturing, oil and gas pipelines, cold rolled steel production, pipe manufacturing, construction, heavy engineering, capital goods, earthmoving equipment, cement plants, fertiliser units and refinery projects.

Industry experts believe the investigation is crucial as low-priced imports have intensified competitive pressure on Indian steel producers despite continued investments in capacity expansion and technology upgrades. If the DGTR concludes that dumping has caused significant injury to the domestic industry, the government may impose anti-dumping duties to create a level playing field for Indian manufacturers.

The probe comes amid India’s continued efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative while ensuring fair competition in the steel sector. The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by steel producers, infrastructure developers and downstream manufacturing industries that rely heavily on hot rolled steel products.