PLI boosting import substitution

Easing Inbound Shipments

• Imports of tyres fell 74%
• Imports of wallpapers reduced by 77%
• Footwear imports fell 54%
• Import curbs imposed on laptops and computers

New Delhi: Steps such as curbs on inbound shipments of certain goods, production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and mandatory quality norms are helping the country reduce imports of non-essential products such as TV, tyres, wallpaper and AC gas compressors.

These steps, among others like imposing antidumping and countervailing duties, have been taken to analyse and control non-essential imports and to augment domestic production capacity in import intensive sectors, an official said. According to an analysis of the Commerce and Industry Ministry, import restrictions imposed on tyres helped cut the inbound shipments by 74 per cent to $74 million in 2022-23 from $276 million in 2019-20. Calendar year wise, these imports declined to $36 million till July this year as against $ 353 million in 2018.

The government in June 2020 imposed import curbs on certain new pneumatic tyres used in motor cars, buses, lorries and motorcycles to promote domestic manufacturing and contain imports from countries like China. Imports of wallpapers reduced by 77 per cent to $ 10 million during April-August this year from $ 44 million in the same month last year due to the launch of paper import monitoring system (PIMS).

The ministry in October last year made import registration under PIMS mandatory for inbound shipments of 201 types of paper and paper boards such as wallpaper, glazed newsprint, handmade paper and tissue paper.