Recycling industry demands zero duty on aluminium scrap imports

New Delhi: Ahead of the budget, recycling industry body AI has urged the government to remove the import duty on aluminium scrap, saying it will help promote sustainability in the industry. According to the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), the recycling process of aluminium scrap emits only 0.3 million tonnes (MT) of Co2 on per tonne of production compared to 14 tonnes of carbon emissions on the production of 1 MT of aluminium through smelters route which involves maintaining of coal-based capacities for power supply.

“Among the key challenges faced by the Indian aluminium recycling industry is 2.5 per cent import duty on aluminium scrap. It is a key raw material for aluminium recycling and the government should make it to zero until the quality material (scrap) is available in sufficient quantity in the domestic market,” AI said in a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the full Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25 in Parliament on July 23. Many countries have realized the importance of scrap that it is sustainable because of recyclable in nature. The demand driver for aluminium in the next few years is going to be substantially higher due to India’s projected higher growth of GDP and ambitious infrastructure development.