The Embassy of Japan in India has raised concerns over delays in Japanese steel consignments at Indian ports, with Customs officials holding up shipments due to the absence of a No Objection Certificate (NOC), as reported by local media. Several steel products imported into India require this certificate from the Ministry of Steel.
Despite repeated efforts to resolve the issue through the Indian Ministry of Steel, the situation remains unresolved, according to Takashi Ariyoshi, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan.
Indian traders have reported that some steel containers have been stuck at ports for nearly two months, driving up detention costs. These delays coincide with increased lobbying by major Indian steel producers, who are pushing for stricter import controls to reduce the flow of cheaper foreign steel.
India’s steel imports have surged by over 41pct YoY in the first half of FY25, reaching 4.73 mln tons, compared to 3.32 mln tons during the same period last year.
