The Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) has recently urged the government to permanently remove customs duties on imported scrap and ferroalloys, and to classify chromium as a critical mineral, in order to support the country’s planned expansion of stainless steel capacity from 7 million mt to 11 million mt. At the same time, ISSDA has also called for stronger measures to address the impact of low-priced Chinese products, warning that some Chinese material may be entering India through third countries such as Vietnam, thereby bypassing existing trade protection measures. These statements suggest that the Indian stainless steel industry is no longer simply asking for “growth support.” Instead, it has entered a more complex phase, where it wants to accelerate capacity expansion while also defending itself against external competition. Capacity Expansion Is Clear, and India’s Stainless Steel Industry Has Entered a Critical Phase At first glance, these may look like two conflicting policy demands. On the one hand, the industry wants lower import duties on raw materials to reduce production costs. On the other hand, it is asking the government to tighten import restrictions and strengthen trade protection. But when viewed within the broader industry cycle that India’s stainless steel sector is currently going through, these two demands are not contradictory. They are simply two sides of the same expansion cycle. For domestic stainless steel producers in India, the most important goal over the next few years is to build up local supply capacity while domestic demand is still growing. ISSDA has previously estimated that stainless steel demand in India will continue to grow by 7%–8% annually over the next two to three years. Against this backdrop, the industry wants to keep raw material costs as low as possible during the expansion phase, while also preventing low-priced imported finished products from eroding returns before local capacity expansion is complete. In other words, what worries India’s stainless steel industry most right now is not the absence of market demand, but the possibility that demand exists while the gains from expansion are undermined by imports. That is why ISSDA is simultaneously calling for the permanent removal of duties on scrap and ferroalloy imports, while also highlighting the threat posed by low-priced Chinese products. In the industry’s view, lower tariffs on raw materials would improve the competitiveness of domestic manufacturing, while stronger protection on finished products would buy time for local investment, expansion, and capacity ramp-up. This policy logic of “opening the upstream while defending the downstream” is, in essence, a typical industrial development strategy. Raw Material Security Has Become the Core Condition Behind Expansion This also reflects the industry’s growing concern over raw material supply. Scrap and ferroalloys are key inputs for stainless steel production, while chromium is a critical element in the stainless alloy system. ISSDA’s specific call to classify chromium as a critical mineral shows that its focus is no longer limited to short-term price issues, but has shifted toward medium- to long-term resource security. India has long been the world’s largest importer of stainless steel scrap. Data shows that its stainless scrap imports rose to 1.58 million mt in 2025, up significantly from 2024, further underscoring India’s continued reliance on overseas scrap supply. For a country aiming to expand stainless steel capacity from 7 million mt to 11 million mt, whether the raw material supply system can scale up in parallel will directly determine whether that expansion can actually be delivered. If import costs for scrap and ferroalloys remain high, or if chromium supply security proves insufficient, then even the most ambitious capacity plans could face rising costs, margin pressure, or slower project execution in practice. From the industry’s perspective, therefore, removing duties on imported raw materials and strengthening critical mineral management are not isolated policy demands. They are essential supporting measures for the broader expansion target. India’s stainless steel industry wants to secure the raw material base first before further releasing capacity, reflecting a deeper concern for supply chain completeness and long-term sustainability. Demand Continues to Grow, but Cheap External Supply Creates Real Pressure On the demand side, India is still seen as one of the most important growth markets for stainless steel consumption globally. With the development of manufacturing, continued infrastructure investment, and upgrading in end-use consumption, India’s stainless steel demand is expected to maintain relatively strong growth, providing a solid foundation for capacity expansion. The challenge, however, is that demand growth does not automatically mean domestic producers will benefit. If most of the incremental demand is captured by imported material, India may see consumption expand without domestic industry benefiting to the same extent. In this context, ISSDA’s concerns over Chinese oversupply spilling into India become particularly sensitive. According to media reports, ISSDA believes China has more than 8 million mt of excess stainless steel melting capacity, and that this material is seeking overseas outlets, with India standing out as one of the most attractive target markets. The reason is straightforward. On the one hand, India is itself a growth market. On the other hand, its domestic supply system is still in the process of expanding and has not yet built an unshakable market barrier, making it more exposed to external supply pressure. For Indian mills, this pressure is not only reflected in price competition, but also in investment expectations. When an industry is in the middle of an expansion phase, companies need a relatively predictable margin environment to support new investments, depreciation costs, and capacity ramp-up. If large volumes of low-priced imports continue to flow in during this period, domestic producers may struggle to convert rising demand into actual returns. The Risk of Rerouted Trade Is One of India’s Bigger Concerns Another important point in ISSDA’s latest statement is the issue of rerouted trade. The association warned that some Chinese steel products may be entering India through third countries such as Vietnam, thereby bypassing existing trade protection measures. This concern is easy to understand. In recent years, amid ongoing global trade friction and stricter origin management, practices such as third-country rerouting, supply chain detours, and origin restructuring have come under increasing scrutiny. For India, this means that even if trade protection measures exist on paper, actual import pressure may not disappear in practice. In other words, what truly concerns the industry is not simply whether tariffs or barriers exist, but whether these measures can actually work as intended. If external supply can continue entering India through more complex trade routes, then the competitive pressure facing domestic producers will not ease in any meaningful way, weakening the real impact of policy protection. India’s Core Objective Is to Turn Demand Advantage Into Industrial Advantage At a deeper level, India’s stainless steel industry is moving from a stage of demand-driven growth to one of broader industrial competition. In the past, discussion of India’s stainless steel market often focused on its consumption growth potential, including its large population base, urbanization, and manufacturing upgrade. But as consumption continues to expand, the question is no longer simply whether demand will grow, but who will ultimately capture that growth. If domestic demand keeps rising while most of the incremental market is filled by imports, India may become a major consumption market without necessarily becoming a true manufacturing powerhouse. What ISSDA is now pushing for is, in effect, the key step needed to turn India’s demand advantage into industrial advantage. That is why the industry is asking the government to lower upstream raw material costs while at the same time strengthening trade defense at the finished-product end. The underlying logic is not simply to reject imports, but to create a more supportive environment for domestic manufacturing to grow and attract investment. The Direction of Future Policy Is Worth Watching Viewed within the broader competitive landscape of the Asian stainless steel market, India’s position is actually becoming quite clear. It does not want to remain merely a consumption market. It wants to become a more complete domestic manufacturing center. That means its policy stance is likely to continue along a dual-track approach: more openness toward key raw materials, and greater caution toward finished-product imports. For the market, there are several developments worth watching. First, whether India will further reduce import duties on scrap and ferroalloys on a long-term basis, or even establish a more stable policy framework for raw material support. Second, whether chromium will be formally included in the country’s critical mineral system, thereby strengthening resource security. Third, whether India will step up anti-dumping, anti-circumvention, and origin-related scrutiny, especially against third-country rerouting paths. If these directions gradually materialize, they could reshape competition in India’s stainless steel market, alter its import structure, and even change broader resource flows across Asia. Conclusion Overall, ISSDA’s latest public stance does not simply signal another trade friction issue. It reflects the broader priorities of India’s stainless steel industry as it enters a new stage: securing raw material supply and cost competitiveness for expansion, while also preventing low-priced external supply from undermining domestic industry during a critical window. Whether India’s stainless steel story can evolve from one of consumption growth into one of manufacturing rise may depend not only on the pace of demand growth itself, but also on whether the government can build a policy mix that effectively balances resources, tariffs, and trade protection in a way that genuinely supports domestic industrial upgrading. Written by: Bruce Chew | bruce.chew@metal.com +601167087088

The Indian Stainless Steel Developers Association (ISSDA) is urging the government to permanently eliminate customs duties on imported scrap and ferroalloys and to designate chromium as a critical mineral, aiming to support the sector's capacity expansion from 7 mt to 11 mt. With domestic consumption growing at 7-8% annually, the industry is simultaneously seeking stricter protection against Chinese dumping, warning that China is diverting its over 8 mt of excess melting capacity to India, frequently by rerouting shipments through countries like Vietnam to bypass existing trade safeguards.

The Iraqi Customs Authority slashed tariffs on solar systems—including PV panels, inverters, cables, and lithium batteries—from 33% to 5%. This move aligns with the Central Bank's recent IQD 6 billion ($4.6 million) loan initiative to boost clean energy uptake. Despite high solar irradiance, Iraq's cumulative capacity was just 42 MW at the end of 2024, a lag officials attribute to 'weak awareness'. However, progress is expected through upcoming utility-scale developments, including the 300 MW Karbala plant and TotalEnergies' planned 1 GW project.

Six departments, including the General Administration of Customs, have adjusted the management measures related to special customs supervision zones, bonded supervision areas, and off-site processing trade. It is mentioned that for goods subject to tariff hikes imposed for the purpose of collecting retaliatory tariffs, after relevant exclusion measures are applicable and the tariff hikes are excluded, they can be imported into existing bonded ledgers, unless the goods are also subject to other measures. For enterprises within special customs supervision zones that utilize tax-exempt equipment within the customs supervision period to undertake commissioned processing businesses for corn, wheat, rice, and cotton provided by enterprises outside the zones, when corn, wheat, rice, and cotton enter the zones from outside the domestic bonded areas, no export license verification is required. The announcement will come into effect on June 10, 2025. The full text of the announcement is as follows: To strengthen the management of goods subject to tariff rate quota management, trade remedy measures, suspension of tariff reduction obligations, tariff hikes, and tariff hikes imposed for the purpose of collecting retaliatory tariffs (hereinafter collectively referred to as the four categories of measures) in special customs supervision zones, bonded supervision areas, and off-site processing trade, with the approval of the State Council, the relevant matters are hereby announced as follows: I. Scope of Goods Covered by This Announcement (1) Goods subject to tariff rate quota management. According to the "Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China to the World Trade Organization" and relevant regulations, wheat, corn, rice, cotton, sugar, wool, wool tops, and chemical fertilizers subject to tariff rate quota management in China. (2) Goods subject to trade remedy measures, suspension of tariff reduction obligations, tariff hikes, and tariff hikes imposed for the purpose of collecting retaliatory tariffs. The goods subject to the above-mentioned measures refer to goods subject to anti-dumping measures, countervailing measures, and safeguard measures, goods subject to the suspension of tariff reduction obligations and tariff hikes, and goods subject to tariff hikes imposed for the purpose of collecting retaliatory tariffs, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of China. II. Relevant Management Measures (1) For bonded businesses conducted by enterprises in special customs supervision zones, bonded supervision areas, and off-site processing trade involving the import of goods under the four categories of measures from overseas, a special ledger shall be established. Goods under the four categories of measures imported from overseas that are not entered into the special ledger shall not be bonded. For goods subject to tariff hikes imposed for the purpose of collecting retaliatory tariffs, after relevant exclusion measures are applicable and the tariff hikes are excluded, they can be imported into existing bonded ledgers (hereinafter referred to as general ledgers), unless the goods are also subject to other measures. (2) Goods under the four categories of measures imported from overseas and their finished products after bonded processing can be transferred between special ledgers on a bonded basis, but they cannot be transferred to general ledgers on a bonded basis. Commodities subject to the four categories of measures imported from overseas that have not been processed may be sold domestically, in accordance with current regulations. Finished products made from bonded processing of commodities subject to the four categories of measures imported from overseas that have not undergone bonded circulation may be sold domestically. When sold domestically, customs duties shall be levied on all bonded imported materials and components, and import-link VAT and consumption tax shall be collected in accordance with current regulations, with the four categories of measures being implemented. If bonded circulation has occurred, domestic sales are not permitted, but the products may be exported overseas. (3) Non-four-category-measure commodities used in the processing of commodities subject to the four categories of measures imported from overseas shall be included in the management of special account books. Non-four-category-measure commodities that have not been fully utilized may be transferred to general account books through bonded circulation. The aforementioned non-four-category-measure commodities include commodities directly imported from overseas that are not subject to the four categories of measures, commodities that have been exported with tax refunds and purchased domestically, and commodities transferred from general account books to special account books. (4) Off-cuts, defective products, and by-products from processing trade under special account books shall not be sold domestically. They may be re-exported or destroyed in accordance with current regulations. (5) Special account books shall not be used for conducting commissioned processing businesses within the area. (6) Cross-border e-commerce commodities shall be managed under cross-border e-commerce account books in accordance with current regulations. However, cross-border e-commerce commodities subject to the four categories of measures shall not be transferred to general account books that are not of the cross-border e-commerce type. (7) For imported materials and components within a special customs supervision area that are not subject to the four categories of measures, but whose finished products after processing are subject to the four categories of measures, selective collection of customs duties shall not apply when sold domestically. Instead, import customs duties shall be levied based on the actual state of the goods (finished products), and import-link VAT and consumption tax shall be collected in accordance with current regulations, with the four categories of measures being implemented. III. Other Matters (1) For enterprises within a special customs supervision area that utilize tax-exempt equipment within the customs supervision period to undertake commissioned processing businesses provided by enterprises outside the area using corn, wheat, rice, and cotton, no export license verification is required when the corn, wheat, rice, and cotton enter the area from outside the domestic bonded area. (2) For commodities subject to the four categories of measures that have already entered special customs supervision areas, bonded supervision sites, and general account books for processing trade outside the area before the official implementation date of the announcement, current regulations shall apply. After the official implementation date of the announcement, if commodities are newly classified as subject to the four categories of measures due to policy adjustments and have already entered special customs supervision areas, bonded supervision sites, and processing trade account books outside the area, no adjustments to management measures will be made. (3) If the commodities managed under this announcement are subject to entry-exit prohibitive or restrictive management measures, they shall be implemented in accordance with current national regulations. (4) The special customs supervision areas referred to in this announcement include comprehensive bonded zones, bonded ports, bonded areas, and the Zhuhai Park of the Zhuhai-Macao Cross-border Industrial Zone. The bonded supervision sites referred to include bonded logistics centers, bonded warehouses, and export supervision warehouses. (V) This announcement shall come into force on June 10, 2025. In the event of any inconsistency between the existing regulations and this announcement, this announcement shall prevail. Joint Announcement No. 44 of 2024 by the General Administration of Customs, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, and State Taxation Administration (Announcement on Adjusting the Management Measures for Sugar in Special Customs Supervision Zones and Processing Trade Outside These Zones) is hereby abolished. It is hereby announced. General Administration of Customs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, State Taxation Administration May 9, 2025

[Europe's Only PV Glass Manufacturer Reduces Working Hours Due to Insufficient Demand] Europe's only solar glass manufacturer, GMB Glasmanufaktur Brandenburg GmbH (GMB), is facing difficulties due to competition from low-priced products from China and declining demand. The company has applied for short-time work subsidies. Short-time work subsidies are a type of benefit provided by the German government during economic downturns to support businesses and employees, with working hours and salaries being correspondingly reduced. (Polaris Solar PV Network)