MIF suggests exports of value-added items
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi: India can mitigate the impact of high tariffs in global markets by exporting high-value cold-rolled steel components and other value-added items that face lower duties, said Dhirendra Sankhla, Director of Mother India Forming (MIF) -- a manufacturer of customised steel tubes and profiles.
The United States has increased tariffs on Indian steel to 50 per cent, while the European Union is proposing new tariffs, creating a ripple effect across the global steel trade and causing uncertainty for countries like the UK. "The world challenged India with 'Make in India', and Indian manufacturers responded with the 'Made in India' benchmark, meeting global quality and delivery standards.
By converting steel volume into precision-formed components, India is no longer just a steel producer, it is a solutions provider for the world," Sankhla said. Cold-roll sheet forming converts steel coil into engineered profiles, tubes and components that are often classified differently for trade purposes, delivering greater downstream savings for original equipment manufacturers.
By offering slitting, precision forming, surface treatment, and pre-assembly, Indian exporters can shift from raw or semi-finished categories -- typically exposed to ad-valorem duties -- to finished goods that attract lower effective tariffs and higher buyer willingness, reducing total landed cost, he explained.
"As tariffs fluctuate, the resilient strategy is clear: add engineering, control quality, and export finished outcomes.
