India’s steel industry
is facing a severe shortage
of metallurgical coke (met coke) in the first half of 2025,
meeting only half of its
total demand despite soaring production targets under the “Make
in India” push.
According to internal
government data cited by Reuters, domestic suppliers produced just 1.5 million tons of met
coke against a requirement of 3.09
million tons between January and June.
Instead of easing the
crunch, the government has tightened
import restrictions, capping total imports at 1.4 million tons for the
second half of the year and introducing country-specific
quotas. The measures, initially intended to promote local
output, have disrupted steelmakers’ supply chains and raised concerns over
production costs and output sustainability.
–
is now feeling the heat of its own policy missteps. In the first half of 2025, domestic
producers managed to meet barely half of the country’s metallurgical coke (met coke)
demand. Between January and June, Indian mills required about 3.09 million metric
tons of met coke, yet domestic suppliers could produce only 1.5 million tons, according
to internal government data reviewed by Reuters.
Despite
the clear shortfall, the government doubled down on import curbs first imposed in
January 2025 – restrictions aimed at boosting local production but which have instead
strangled supply chains. In June, it tightened the noose further by introducing
country-specific quotas and capping total imports at 1.4 million tons for the second
half of the year