India's metallurgical coke imports are set to reach a record level this financial year even after the government imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty in July. Imports are expected to touch around 6 million tonnes in FY27, which would be about 32% higher than the previous year, as domestic availability remains short of the requirement from steel and pig iron producers. The increase also shows that the duty has not stopped overseas material from entering the Indian market where buyers continue to find imported coke necessary.
Imports continue to rise despite duty
The increase in imports comes after a long debate around restricting met coke shipments into India. Domestic steel producers had opposed import restrictions, arguing that local coke production was not sufficient to meet demand. The government eventually imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty in July, but the latest import trend indicates that demand for overseas material remains strong.
Met coke is an important raw material for pig iron production, which in turn feeds into the steel industry. With pig iron producers requiring additional coke and domestic output not growing at the same pace as consumption, imports have continued to fill the gap. Domestic met coke production has increased by only around 6% year on year, according to industry estimates cited in the latest market assessment.
Indonesia becomes a major supplier
Indonesia has emerged as one of the biggest sources of India's imported met coke. Imports from Indonesia have reached around 2.1 million tonnes so far this year, representing an increase of about 165% from the corresponding period last year. Poland is another important supplier, with Indian buyers continuing to look overseas as domestic availability remains limited.
The sharp increase from Indonesia is particularly notable because it has come despite the new anti-dumping measure. The movement indicates that Indian buyers are still actively sourcing material from overseas markets when the domestic supply-demand balance does not provide enough coke at competitive levels. The final import volume for the year will therefore depend not only on the duty but also on domestic production and the requirement from pig iron and steel producers.
Pig iron exports are supporting demand
One of the important factors behind the higher imports is the strength of India's pig iron export market. Pig iron producers exporting their material can avoid the met coke import duty when the imported coke is used for producing pig iron for export. This makes imported coke more attractive for exporters even after the anti-dumping duty was introduced.
Demand for Indian pig iron in the US market has also strengthened this year. Industry executives cited in the report expect Indian pig iron exports to the US could potentially reach around twice the 2025 level, while Indian suppliers have gained some market share from Ukraine because of lower prices. The US typically imports around 4–5 million tonnes of pig iron a year, making the export market important for Indian producers.
Higher coke prices add to the pressure
The shortage of domestic met coke has also been reflected in prices. Indian met coke prices reached around ₹35,850 per tonne in August, up 24% from a year earlier. Rising coking coal prices have been one of the main factors behind the increase, adding pressure to the cost structure of coke producers as well as downstream steel and pig iron manufacturers.
Market expectations remain firm in the near term. Industry market intelligence cited in the latest report expects met coke prices could rise another 3–4% in the current week, although the actual movement will depend on coking coal prices, domestic availability and buying from steel and pig iron producers.
Domestic production remains the key issue
The latest import numbers bring the focus back to India's domestic met coke capacity. A 6% increase in domestic production is not enough to keep pace with the requirement from steel and pig iron producers, leaving the market dependent on imported material. This supply gap is continuing even after the introduction of the anti-dumping measure.
For Indian steel and pig iron producers, the situation creates two different effects. On one side, higher imported coke availability helps maintain production when domestic supply is insufficient. On the other, the increase in met coke prices and higher coking coal costs are adding to production expenses at a time when steel producers are already dealing with changing raw material and finished steel prices.
Anti-dumping duty has not stopped imports
The record import projection suggests that the anti-dumping duty has not eliminated India's requirement for imported met coke. With imports expected at around 6 million tonnes, the market is still relying heavily on overseas supply, particularly from Indonesia. The duty structure, export-linked exemption and shortage of domestic production are all influencing how buyers are sourcing their requirements.
For the coming months, domestic coke production, Indonesian and other overseas availability, coking coal prices and pig iron export demand will remain important factors for the Indian met coke market. For now, the numbers point to a market where demand is running ahead of domestic supply, keeping imports high despite the anti-dumping levy.