Low-Ash Met Coke Imports for Six More Months (Jan–June 2026) But High Ash Varieties Allowed Freely

· Steel Industry, Specially Ferro Alloys Affected

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has amended the import policy for Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under Chapter 27 of ITC (HS), 2022. A new Policy Condition No. 08

Key points:

· Restricted period: 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026.

· Products covered: Low Ash Metallurgical Coke with ash content below 18%, including coke fines/coke breeze and ultra-low phosphorus metallurgical coke (phosphorus up to 0.030%, size up to 30 mm with 5% tolerance) for ferroalloy manufacturing.

· HS Codes affected: 27040020, 27040030, 27040040, 27040090.

· What remains free: Metallurgical coke with ash content above 18% and other imports under the same HS codes are outside the restriction and continue to be Free.

Effect: Only low-ash metallurgical coke (as specified) faces restrictions for six more months; higher-ash metallurgical coke imports remain unrestricted.

[DGFT Notification No. 53/2025-26 dated 31 December 2025]

Effect of this Notification: Import of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke (having ash content below 18%), including coke fines/coke breeze and ultra -low phosphorous metallurgical coke, falling under ITC (HS) Codes 27040020, 27040030. 27040040 and 27040090, i s "Restricted " from 01 .01.2026 till 30.06.2026 and shall be permitted only in accordance with Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27, while imports of metallurgical coke with ash content above 18% and other imports under the said ITC (HS) codes shall continue to remain "Free''.

Subject: Amendment in Import Policy & Policy Condition of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under Chapter 27 of ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy).

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, read with paragraphs 1.02 and 2.0 I of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, as amended from time to time, the Central Government hereby amends the Import Pol icy of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under Chapter 27 of ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy), as under:

1. Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27 is introduced as under:

a) Import of "Low Ash Metallurgical Coke (HS Codes 27040020, 27040030, 27040040, 27040090) having ash content below 18%, including coke fines / coke breeze and ultra-low phosphorous metallurgical coke with phosphorous content up to 0.030% with size upto 30 mm with 5% size tolerance for use in ferroalloy manufacturing" shall be "Restricted" from 01 .01 .2026 till 30.06.2026.

b) Other imports under above ITC (HS) codes including metallurgical Coke with high ash content, that is, ash content above 18% is outside the scope of "Restriction" and shall be 'Free'.

2. The Import Policy for the following ITC (HS) Code is amended as under:

ITC (HS) Code	Item Description	Existing Import Policy	Existing Policy Condition	Revised Import Policy	Revised Policy Condition
27040020	Coke and semi- coke of lignite or of peat	Free	Import of "Low Ash Metallurgical Coke having ash content below 18%, excluding coke fines I coke breeze and ultra-low phosphorous metallurgical coke with phosphorous content up to 0.030% with size upto 30 mm with 5% size tolerance for use in ferroalloy manufacturing" shall be "Restricted". Import shall be permitted subject to Policy Condition 8 of this Chapter. Other Import s under given ITC (HS) code shall be 'Free'.	Restricted	Subject to Policy Condition to. 08 of this Chapter.
27040030	Hard coke of coal
27040040	Soft coke of coal
27040090	Other

This is issued with the approval of the Minister of Commerce & Industry.

(Issued from F. No. 0I /89/180/23/AM-23/PC-2[ A]/E-38692)