Government Cuts Export Duty On Low Grade Iron Ore, Steel Intermediates

The Union Government on Friday scrapped export duty on low grade iron ore lumps and fines with below 58 per cent iron content. The government reversed its earlier order from May when it raised the duty 50 per cent to control spiraling inflation.

In the notification which takes effect from today government also removed export tax on some steel intermediates from 15 per cent which was also imposed in May.

The government also lowered the export tax on iron ore and concentrates other than roasted iron pyrites to 30 per cent from 50 per cent, the report said.

As per a finance ministry notification issued late night on Friday, exports of specified pig iron and steel products as well as iron ore pellets will attract 'nil' export duty.

Also, export duty on outward shipment of iron ore lumps and fines with less than 58 per cent iron content will be 'nil'.

In the case of iron ore lumps and fines with more than 58 per cent iron, the rate of duty will be 30 per cent.

As per the notification, import duty on anthracite/PCI, coking coal and ferronickel -- used as raw material in the steel industry -- has been hiked to 2.5 per cent, while for coke and semi-coke it has been raised to 5 per cent, from 'nil' earlier.

The duty cut follows a meeting of Steel Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this week. The meeting was attended by Revenue Secretary designate Sanjay Malhotra, among other senior officials.

The finance ministry had in May hiked the export duty on pig iron and steel products to 15 per cent from 'nil', a move which was intended to discourage exports and increase domestic availability to help lower prices.

The tax on export of iron ores and concentrates was hiked to 50 per cent from 30 per cent, while on iron pellets a 45 per cent duty was imposed.

Steel industry has been demanding a rollback of the duties, saying local demand was not sufficient for domestic production.