Lok Sabha Question No. 3490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-16
Subject: Export and Import of Graphite Electrode
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Pratima Bhoumik, Bhagwanth Khuba, Devji Mansingram Patel, Sunil Kumar Singh

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3490 FOR ANSWER ON 16/03/2020

## EXPORT AND IMPORT OF GRAPHITE ELECTRODE

3490.  MS. PRATIMA BHOUMIK: SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  details  about  the  total  quantity  of  graphite electrode  exported  and  imported  by  the  Government  during  each  of  the  last  five years and the current year and if so, the details thereof, year-wise;

(b) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  there  has  been  an  incline  in  price  of  graphite electrodes during the recent years as a result of which steel manufacturers especially at smaller levels are unable to operate in Indian market;

(c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  corrective steps taken by the Government to provide relief to these smaller steel units; and

(d) the steps taken by the Government to encourage the growth of the small steel companies in the country?

## ANSWER

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

## THE MINISTER OF STEEL

(a) The quantity of import and export of graphite electrodes by Indian firms during the last three years and for the current year is as:-

## (Quantity in Tonne)

| Year                     |   Export |   Import |
|--------------------------|----------|----------|
| 2016-17                  |    62576 |     4057 |
| 2017-18                  |    82476 |     5207 |
| 2018-19                  |    75875 |     8276 |
| April, 2019 - Jan., 2020 |    46051 |    11608 |

Source: DGFT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry

(b)&(c):  The  price  of  graphite  electrodes  have  tended  to  fluctuate  in  recent  years, both globally and domestically. While the price has increased since latter half of 2017 and remained high until nearly the end of 2018, the prices have softened in 2019. As steel sector is  deregulated,  the impact  of graphite electrode prices on  steel manufacturers depend on commercial arrangements with graphite electrode suppliers. However, to provide relief to the steel producers, the Government keeps a watch on the prices of graphite electrodes and steel items and accordingly, suitable recommendations for change in Basic Customs Duty are made to Ministry of Finance from time to time.

(d) To  encourage  the  growth  of  small  steel  companies  in  the  country,  the Government has brought National Steel Policy 2017, Domestically Manufactured Iron &  Steel  Products  Procurement  (DMI&SP)  Policy,  Steel  Scrap  Policy,  Steel  Import Monitoring  System  (SIMS)  alongwith  making  efforts  for  ensuring    raw  material security , energy efficient technologies etc. to improve the performance of small steel companies. Ministry of Steel has also facilitated setting up of an industry driven Steel Research & Technology Mission of India (SRTMI) in association with the public and private sector steel companies to spearhead research and development activities in the iron and steel industry.

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