【SMM Aluminium Flash News】The Indian Association of Aluminum Manufacturers (ASMA) urges the government to reduce import tariffs on primary aluminum.

Published: Nov 28, 2025 09:10

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According to foreign media reports, the Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA) of India has urged the government to reduce import tariffs on primary aluminum, arguing that this would help rationalize domestic prices and support downstream industries facing high input costs. The association stated that India currently imposes a 7.5% tariff on imported primary aluminum, increasing the cost for downstream producers to procure it. Primary aluminum procurement costs account for nearly 80% of downstream producers' total production costs, thus driving up selling prices and making Indian-made aluminum products uncompetitive in the international market. However, within India, the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) allows finished products to enter India duty-free. Aluminum sheets, plates, and strips from ASEAN countries enjoy zero tariffs, directly harming the interests of Indian producers who must purchase raw materials at a price including the 7.5% tariff. This distorted business model puts downstream producers at a significant cost disadvantage. Although India's aluminum production costs are among the lowest in the world, this advantage has not benefited domestic consumers.

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