DGFT Minutes

Minutes of Special EFC Meeting held on 15.01.2025 to consider applications for granting Import Authorisations for Import of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke subject to Country-wise QR

A Special Exim Facilitation Committee (EFC) Meeting was held under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Shubhra, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade, DGFT (Hqrs.) on 15.01.2025 at 11.00 AM at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi to consider applications for granting Import Authorisations for Import of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke subject to Country-wise QR. The following members were present:

1. Shri Manik Chandra Pandit, Director, Ministry of Coal

2. Shri Satya Raja Sekhar G, Joint DGFT

3. Shri Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, Dy. DGFT

4. Shri Deepak Jhalani, Dy. DGFT

At the outset, Chairman EFC welcomed all the members and informed that based on the quantitative safeguard recommendation of DGTR, vide Notification No. 22/4/2023-DGTR dated 29.04.2024 read with Notification dated 28.05.2024, the DGFT vide Notification No.

ormed that based on the quantitative safeguard recommendation of DGTR, vide Notification No. 22/4/2023-DGTR dated 29.04.2024 read with Notification dated 28.05.2024, the DGFT vide Notification No. 44/2024-25 dated 26.12.2024, has notified Country-wise Quantitative Restrictions on import of ‘Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under ITC(HS) Codes 27040020, 27040030, 27040040, 27040090, for a period of six months, effective from 01.01.2025 up to 30.06.2025, as under: -

Country ↓ Quantitative Restriction (in MT) Quarter → Jan-March,2025 Apr-June 2025 Total Australia 25,638 25,638 51,276 China PR 39,323 39,323 78,646 Colombia 1,24,886 1,24,886 2,49,771 Indonesia 33,182 33,182 66,364 Japan 1,04,990 1,04,990 2,09,980 Poland 2,53,168 2,53,168 5,06,336 Qatar 810 810 1620 Russia 44,591 44,591 89182 Singapore 23,239 23,239 46,478 Switzerland 40,887 40,887 81,774 UK 38 38 76 Others 22,831 22,831 45,662 Total 7,13,583 7,13,583 14,27,166

The committee also noticed import statistics during the last three years and the imports already made during the current Financial year to understand the overall requirement of Met-Coke in the Country. The statistics show a sharp increase in the import of Met Coke and the estimates indicate that this year imports till December would come near to the overall imports of Met-Coke during the last Financial Year (2023-24).

increase in the import of Met Coke and the estimates indicate that this year imports till December would come near to the overall imports of Met-Coke during the last Financial Year (2023-24).

4. Procedure for filing application and documentation requirements:-
   Further, to lay down procedure for filing application for seeking country-wise quota/import authorisation, the DGFT issued Trade Notice No.25/ 2024-25 dated 30.12.2024 which inter-alia requires applicant to provide the following information:
   ii. To file applications from 01.01.2025 up to 12.01.2025. iii. To file country wise application, i.e. one application for one supplier country. iv. The quantity applied should be for the entire period of the restriction.
   v. Details of imports of the said item during the past three years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Additionally, import data for the said item during current year and source country. vi. Details of production capacity of the said item and actual production during 2023-24 and the current year (till 31.12.2024); vii. Allocation of Quantities to be considered by a Special EFC (Exim Facilitation Committee) in DGFT.

f the said item and actual production during 2023-24 and the current year (till 31.12.2024); vii. Allocation of Quantities to be considered by a Special EFC (Exim Facilitation Committee) in DGFT.

Brief details of the applications: A total of 71 applications were received (till 12.01.2025) from 23 companies/applicants for total 64,00,486 MT which comprises of 18 actual users and 5 traders. No application was received for imports from Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland and UK. One application from Chile under the ‘Others’ category also received.

Criteria adopted by the Committee for arriving at the quantities to be allocated:
The committee decided that the allocations are to be made in a way that there is continuity in the operations of the user industry and no sudden scarcity in the availability of the raw material. Accordingly, the following guidelines were adopted (i) The country specific quota shall not exceed in terms of the notified quantity to ensure strict compliance to the Safeguard Quota notified by the DGTR for issuance of Import Authorisations. (ii) To ensure that the allocated quantity in addition to the imports already made would not be less than the average imports of the applicant during the preceding 3 years. (iii) To ensure that the allocated quantity in addition to the imports already made would not be less than the last year import (2023-24) of the applicant.

e applicant during the preceding 3 years. (iii) To ensure that the allocated quantity in addition to the imports already made would not be less than the last year import (2023-24) of the applicant. (iv) In case of applications where there is a huge hike in the requirement vis-à-vis their past imports, the past data of imports has been taken note of to arrive at a reasonable requirement (v) To also consider the surge in the imports of Met-Coke during the current financial year in comparison to previous years.

6. Decision of the Committee: After detailed deliberations, the committee based on the criteria adopted at Para 5 and Role of traders/aggregator at Para 6, took the following decisions:

(a) The allocation to actual users was prioritised based on their average imports during the last three years and current year up to 31.12.2024 and their production capacities. The Committee has considered
i. the shortfall in the already imported quantity vis-à-vis the average imports during the last 3 years to ensure continuity in operations. ii. the quantity of requirements for which the applications were filed to take note their future requirements for the rest of the period of restriction. (b) The Committee has further compared the requested quantity with last year’s imports, average of the last 3 years and the production capacities utilized to arrive at the allocations. (c) Quantity of 1,500 MT to be allotted to each traders/aggregator applicant or the applied quantity whichever is less.

3 years and the production capacities utilized to arrive at the allocations. (c) Quantity of 1,500 MT to be allotted to each traders/aggregator applicant or the applied quantity whichever is less. (d) In case any applicant wishes to import the allocated quantity through traders/aggregators, provisions have been made in the system to support the arrangement. (e) While considering such amendment applications from traders, it would be ensured that they are backed by authority letter(s) from actual user/allottees. (f) Further, the traders/aggregator shall also be required to give a firm commitment that they will import the allotted quantity on behalf of actual user(s) and will not divert the same for further trading in domestic market. The said condition would be imposed on the Authorisation issued for Traders. (g) Transferring such a quota to any other entity would attract penal provisions for non- compliance to the conditions endorsed on the authorisation. (h) A total quantity of 11,39,200 MT was recommended by the Committee for allocation to applicants against Restricted Authorisation applications. The Application-wise allocation is given in Annexure – I.

The meeting ended with a Vote of Thanks to the Chair.

tee for allocation to applicants against Restricted Authorisation applications. The Application-wise allocation is given in Annexure – I.

The meeting ended with a Vote of Thanks to the Chair.

Annexure – I

Application-wise allocation of quantity for issuance of Import Authorisation for Import of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke subject to Country-wise QR

Sl.No. File No. Allocated Quantity (In MT) 1 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005372AM25 22000 2 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005393AM25 0 3 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005401AM25 0 4 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005418AM25 1200 5 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005461AM25 1500 6 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005472AM25 13000 7 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005476AM25 88000 8 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005579AM25 0 9 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005580AM25 0 10 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005589AM25 0 11 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005590AM25 0 12 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005591AM25 0 13 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005592AM25 0 14 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005593AM25 26000 15 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005594AM25 0 16 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005595AM25 30000 17 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005596AM25 0 18 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005597AM25 0 19 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005598AM25 60000 20 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005623AM25 0 21 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005624AM25 65000 22 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005629AM25 11000 23 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005630AM25 0 24 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005639AM25 1500 25 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005640AM25 0 26 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005641AM25 0 27 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005648AM25 0 28 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005649AM25 0 29 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005650AM25 0 30 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005689AM25 88000 31 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005690AM25 88000 32 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005691AM25 162000 33 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005692AM25 0 34 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005700AM25 16000

Y00005650AM25 0 30 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005689AM25 88000 31 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005690AM25 88000 32 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005691AM25 162000 33 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005692AM25 0 34 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005700AM25 16000

35 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005701AM25 0 36 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005702AM25 50000 37 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005703AM25 50000 38 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005708AM25 95000 39 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005731AM25 0 40 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005733AM25 0 41 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005736AM25 0 42 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005737AM25 0 43 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005741AM25 20000 44 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005742AM25 0 45 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005743AM25 12000 46 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005744AM25 8000 47 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005750AM25 0 48 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005751AM25 12000 49 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005752AM25 8000 50 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005753AM25 20000 51 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005758AM25 0 52 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005760AM25 6000 53 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005761AM25 9000 54 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005765AM25 52000 55 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005766AM25 0 56 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005768AM25 0 57 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005769AM25 46000 58 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005774AM25 40000 59 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005775AM25 0 60 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005776AM25 0 61 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005777AM25 0 62 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005778AM25 1500 63 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005779AM25 0 64 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005780AM25 0 65 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005781AM25 0 66 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005782AM25 0 67 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005784AM25 0 68 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005786AM25 25000 69 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005787AM25 0 70 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005788AM25 10000 71 HQRXIMLAPPLY00005789AM25 1500

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