India's LAM coke import limits are driving up steel costs by 20–25%, threatening industry competitiveness.

India's import restrictions on low ash metallurgical coke (LAM Coke), vital for steelmaking, are raising production costs and prices, a GTRI report says. Despite high duties protecting finished steel exports, quotas and inflated anti-dumping duties—based on inaccurate freight benchmarks—have limited imports to 1.5 million tonnes in early 2025, far below the 3 million tonnes needed. With LAM Coke making up 35–40% of steel costs, price hikes of 20–25% have driven finished steel prices up 3–5%, squeezing margins and threatening competitiveness. The report urges the government to expand quotas and use realistic shipping data to recalibrate duties.