Anti-Dumping Duty on Steel Imports Into India: Every Active Case, Every Rate, Every Expiry Date (May 2026)

India maintains one of the most active trade defence regimes in the world for steel products. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies has investigated, recommended, and secured anti-dumping duties on steel imports from China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and over a dozen other countries across product categories ranging from seamless tubes to flat rolled stainless steel.

For procurement managers sourcing steel internationally, knowing which products from which countries carry anti-dumping duties — and at what rate — is essential for accurate landed cost calculation. Getting this wrong means unexpected duty demands at the port, eroded margins, and potential consignment delays.

This page is designed to be bookmarked and checked before every import purchase order. We update it whenever DGTR issues new findings or CBIC publishes new duty notifications.

How Anti-Dumping Works in India

Anti-dumping duty is a trade remedy mechanism permitted under WTO rules. It allows a country to impose additional customs duty on imports that are being “dumped” — sold at prices below their normal value in the exporter’s home market (or below their cost of production).

In India, the process works through a defined institutional framework. The domestic industry (or DGTR itself) files a petition alleging that imports from a specific country are being dumped and causing material injury. DGTR initiates an investigation, which typically takes 12–18 months. During the investigation, DGTR collects data from domestic producers, foreign exporters, and importers. If the investigation finds dumping and injury, DGTR issues “final findings” recommending a specific duty rate. The Ministry of Finance (through CBIC) then imposes the duty via a customs notification, typically for a period of 5 years.

The duty rates are producer-specific. A Chinese mill that cooperates fully with the investigation and demonstrates lower dumping margins will receive a lower duty rate than one that doesn’t cooperate. Non-cooperating producers are assigned the highest “residual” duty rate, which serves as a penalty for non-participation.

Active Anti-Dumping Duties on Steel Products (As of May 2026)

Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes and Pipes from China

This is one of the most clearly defined active anti-dumping orders on steel products in India. CBIC Notification No. 31/2022-Customs (ADD), dated December 20, 2022, imposed duty on stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes with diameter up to and including 6 NPS, originating from China PR. The duty applies to products manufactured using either hot extrusion or hot piercing processes, whether sold as hot finished or cold finished. Defective, non-prime, or secondary grades are also covered.

The duty amount varies by producer. Cooperating Chinese producers received individually assessed rates. Non-cooperating producers face the highest residual rate of $3,801 per MT. The duty is payable in Indian currency at the exchange rate applicable on the date of presentation of the bill of entry.

This order is valid for 5 years from December 20, 2022, meaning it remains in force until approximately December 2027 unless revoked or amended.

In March 2026, DGTR initiated a sunset review investigation on seamless tubes of iron, alloy or non-alloy steel (not stainless) from China PR, indicating that the broader seamless tube trade continues to be monitored actively.

Flat Rolled Products of Stainless Steel — Investigation from 15 Countries

This is one of the most sweeping anti-dumping investigations in Indian steel trade history. DGTR initiated an investigation (File No. 6/12/2019-DGTR) on flat rolled products of stainless steel from fifteen countries: China PR, Korea RP, European Union, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, USA, Thailand, South Africa, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

The investigation covered a broad range of stainless steel flat products. Given the number of countries and the complexity of the product scope, this investigation has been proceeding through multiple stages. Importers of stainless steel flat products from any of these fifteen countries should verify the current status of this case on DGTR’s website before placing orders, as provisional or final duties could be imposed at any stage.

Cold-Rolled Stainless Steel Grades 300-400 from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam

On September 29, 2025, DGTR announced the initiation of a new anti-dumping investigation on cold-rolled stainless steel products of grade 300-400 originating from or imported from China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This investigation covers austenitic steels (300 series, minimum 6% nickel content) and ferritic/martensitic steels (400 series), including products that have been further processed after cold rolling — annealing, quenching, polishing, coating, and other surface treatments.

The HS codes covered include 721990, 721911–721935, 722011–722090. This is a broad product scope that could affect significant import volumes, particularly from China and Vietnam which have been major sources of cold-rolled stainless steel for Indian buyers.

This investigation is ongoing as of May 2026. If DGTR’s preliminary findings are affirmative, provisional anti-dumping duties could be imposed before the final determination.

Seamless Tubes of Iron, Alloy or Non-Alloy Steel from China (Sunset Review 2026)

On March 20, 2026, DGTR initiated a sunset review investigation on seamless tubes, pipes, and hollow profiles of iron, alloy or non-alloy steel (other than cast iron and stainless steel) from China PR. These products have external diameters not exceeding 355.6mm and may be hot finished, cold drawn, or cold rolled.

Anti-dumping duties on this product category from China have been in place for approximately a decade, having been first imposed in 2016 and subsequently extended through sunset reviews. The current investigation will determine whether the duty should be continued for another five years.

Ongoing DGTR Investigations Relevant to Steel and Metals

Beyond the cases directly involving steel products, DGTR is simultaneously conducting several investigations on products closely related to the steel value chain.

Aluminium foil (80 micron and below) from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand is under investigation, with an oral hearing scheduled for April 28, 2026. This reflects the broader metals trade defence activity that accelerated during the Hormuz crisis as Gulf aluminium production was disrupted.

Ferro alloy investigations are also active, reflecting the interlinked nature of the steelmaking input chain. Anti-dumping investigations on upstream inputs can affect steel production costs even for domestically produced steel.

How Anti-Dumping Duty Interacts with Other Import Levies

Anti-dumping duty does not replace other duties — it is charged in addition to the standard duty stack. A typical calculation for a steel product that carries anti-dumping duty looks like this:

Start with the assessable value (CIF price in INR). Add basic customs duty at 7.5% on the assessable value. Add safeguard duty at 12% where applicable (currently on flat steel products). Add social welfare surcharge at 10% on the customs duty component. Add anti-dumping duty (the ADD amount, either fixed per tonne or percentage). Calculate IGST at 18% on the cumulative value (assessable value + all duties above).

The compounding effect is significant. On a product with a CIF price of $500/MT, the total landed cost including anti-dumping duty can exceed the CIF price by 45–60%, depending on the specific ADD rate. This often makes imports uncompetitive against domestic steel, which is the policy intent.

Use SteelMath’s Steel Weight Calculator to model product weights, and refer to our GST on Steel guide for the tax calculations.

What Importers Should Do

Before placing any import order: Check DGTR’s website (dgtr.gov.in) for active anti-dumping orders and ongoing investigations relevant to your product and source country. DGTR maintains a searchable database of all cases. Cross-reference the product description and HS code — anti-dumping orders are product-specific and country-specific, so a product that attracts duty from China may be duty-free from an alternative source.

When evaluating alternative sources: If your traditional Chinese or Vietnamese supplier’s products carry anti-dumping duty, evaluate alternative countries that are not subject to orders. Turkey, Brazil, Ukraine (where operational), and domestic Indian producers are common alternatives. However, verify that no anti-circumvention investigation has been initiated — DGTR watches for trade diversion through third countries.

When negotiating with suppliers: Some foreign producers are individually assessed at lower duty rates than the residual rate. If your supplier cooperated with the DGTR investigation and received an individual rate, verify their name and rate in the CBIC notification. The difference between an individually assessed rate and the residual rate can be thousands of dollars per tonne.

When budgeting for imports: Build anti-dumping duty into your landed cost model from the start. Do not treat it as an unexpected charge. The duty is known, published, and predictable — failing to account for it in your quotations or project estimates is a planning error, not a regulatory surprise.

The Compliance Stack for Steel Imports

Anti-dumping duty is one part of a comprehensive regulatory framework. Every steel import into India must also comply with BIS certification requirements (151 mandatory Indian Standards under QCO 2024), SIMS registration, basic customs duty, and GST. Missing any single layer can result in consignment delays or rejection at port.

The Hormuz Dimension

The Hormuz crisis has created an unusual dynamic for anti-dumping enforcement. With Iranian steel production offline and Chinese exports constrained by freight disruptions, some product categories that were previously oversupplied with dumped imports are now experiencing genuine shortage. This may reduce the economic injury to domestic industry — one of the prerequisites for maintaining anti-dumping duties.

However, India’s domestic steel producers are likely to argue that the structural risk of dumped imports returning once the crisis resolves justifies maintaining existing duties and investigating new cases. The sunset review on seamless tubes from China, initiated just three weeks after the Hormuz crisis began, suggests DGTR is maintaining its protective posture regardless of short-term supply dynamics.

For importers, the practical implication is clear: do not assume that the crisis environment will lead to relaxation of anti-dumping enforcement. If anything, expect DGTR to initiate additional investigations as it positions to protect domestic capacity that is currently being expanded (RINL revival, JSW Dolvi, Tata Kalinganagar Phase 2) against the eventual normalisation of global trade flows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What anti-dumping duties are active on steel imports into India in 2026?

Key active duties include: stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes from China PR (December 2022, 5 years, up to $3,801/MT residual); flat rolled stainless steel from 15 countries (investigation ongoing); cold-rolled stainless steel grades 300-400 from China, Indonesia, Vietnam (investigation initiated September 2025); and seamless tubes from China (sunset review March 2026).

How is anti-dumping duty calculated on steel?

Anti-dumping duty equals the difference between normal value (exporter’s domestic price or constructed cost) and export price to India. It is expressed as a fixed amount per tonne or a percentage. Rates are producer-specific — cooperating producers get lower rates than non-cooperating ones.

Who investigates anti-dumping cases in India?

The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. DGTR investigates dumping and injury; based on its final findings, the Ministry of Finance (CBIC) imposes the duty via customs notification.

How long do anti-dumping duties last?

Typically 5 years from the customs notification date. Before expiry, sunset reviews can extend the duty for another 5 years. There is no limit on the number of extensions.

Does anti-dumping duty apply on top of other import duties?

Yes. Anti-dumping duty is levied in addition to basic customs duty (7.5%), safeguard duty (12% on flat products), social welfare surcharge, and IGST (18%). The cumulative stack can make imports 45–60% more expensive than CIF price.

Data Sources & Verification

• DGTR website (dgtr.gov.in): active anti-dumping investigations database, case file lists, initiation notifications
• CBIC Notification No. 31/2022-Customs (ADD), December 20, 2022: stainless steel seamless tubes and pipes from China PR, 5-year duty, residual rate $3,801/MT
• CBIC Notification No. 06/2023-Customs (ADD), June 9, 2023: amendment regarding company name change
• DGTR File No. 6/12/2019-DGTR: flat rolled stainless steel products investigation from 15 countries
• DGTR initiation notification September 29, 2025: cold-rolled stainless steel grades 300-400 from China, Indonesia, Vietnam; HS codes 7219xx, 7220xx
• DGTR initiation notification March 20, 2026: sunset review on seamless tubes from China PR
• DGTR oral hearing schedule April 28, 2026: aluminium foil investigation
• Customs Tariff Act, 1975: legal basis for anti-dumping duty imposition (Section 9A)
• WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement (Article VI of GATT 1994)

This tracker is updated when new DGTR findings or CBIC notifications are published. Anti-dumping duty rates and case statuses are subject to change. Always verify current rates against the latest CBIC notification before clearing imports. SteelMath is not a customs broker or legal advisor.

Related on SteelMath: BIS Certification Guide · Safeguard Duty Guide · GST on Steel · Hormuz Crisis Impact · Steel Weight Calculator