Budget 2024: Aluminium makers urge govt to up import duty on scrap to 7.5%

Aluminium producers have made a plea to the government to increase import duty on aluminium scrap to 7.5 per cent from present 2.5 per cent in the upcoming budget.

They have also sought maintaining the duty on primary aluminium imports at the current rate of 7.5 per cent or a marginal rise to 10 per cent.

The move would discourage the influx of sub-standard materials and safeguard the domestic industry which provides livelihood to over 10 lakh people.

In its representation to the finance minister, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has asked the government to control imports by fixing scrap import duty at par with that on primary aluminium, i.e. 7.5 per cent.

AAI has also called for maintaining the duty on primary aluminium imports at the current rate of 7.5 per cent or a marginal rise to 10 per cent, encompassing downstream products as well, in order to protect the domestic market from inundation of cheap imports.

Despite sufficient domestic production, primary aluminium .