**Executive Summary**
This notification, issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, amends the import policy and policy condition for Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under Chapter 27 of the ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy). Effective January 1, 2026, certain imports will be "Restricted" until June 30, 2026, as outlined in Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27. The notification is dated December 31, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Introduction of Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27:**
* Imports of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke (HS Codes 27040020, 27040030, 27040040, 27040090) with ash content below 18%, including coke fines/breeze and ultra-low phosphorous metallurgical coke (up to 0.030% phosphorous content, size up to 30mm with 5% tolerance for ferroalloy manufacturing) are "Restricted."
* The restriction is effective from January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
* Imports of metallurgical coke with ash content above 18% under the specified HS codes remain "Free".
* **Amendment of Import Policy for Specified ITC (HS) Codes:**
* The import policy for ITC (HS) code 27040020 (Coke and semi-coke of lignite or of peat) is amended from "Free" to "Restricted."
* The revised policy condition for ITC (HS) code 27040020 is now subject to Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27.
* ITC(HS) codes 27040030, 27040040, 27040090 import policy remains unchanged.
**Impact Analysis**
**Importers of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke**
* **Impact:** Imports of certain Low Ash Metallurgical Coke (ash content below 18%) falling under specific HS codes will be "Restricted" from January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026. They will need to adhere to Policy Condition No. 08 of Chapter 27 to be permitted.
* **Action Required:** Review current import practices to ensure compliance with the new restrictions and Policy Condition No. 08, assess the impact on supply chains, and prepare for potential adjustments to import strategies during the restricted period.
**Ferroalloy Manufacturers**
* **Impact:** The restriction on imports of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke impacts availability.
* **Action Required:** Assess the impact on your manufacturing processes, investigate alternative supply sources, and adhere to Policy Condition No. 08.
Key Entities Referenced
Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992: Governs the development and regulation of foreign trade in India.
Import Policy of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke: Policy governing the import of low ash metallurgical coke, specifically under Chapter 27 of the ITC (HS) code.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade: The agency responsible for implementing the import policy.
ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy): Indian Trade Classification (Harmonized System) that classifies goods for import and export purposes; used to define and regulate the import of goods.
(To be published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary Part-II, Section-3, Sub-Section (ii))
Government of India
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Department of Commerce
Directorate General of Foreign Trade
Vanijya Bhawan
Notification No,53/2025-26
Dated: 31~1 December 2025
Subject: Amendment in Import Policy & Policy Condition of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke under
Chapter 27 of ITC (HS), 2022, Schedule-I (Import Policy) - regarding.
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 Policy
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) Existing Revised
Revised
Code Item Description Import Existing Policy Condition Policy
Import Policy
Policy Condition
27040020 Coke and semi- Free Import of 44Low Ash Restricted Subject to
coke of lignite or Metallurgical Coke having ash Policy
of peat content below 18%, excluding Condition No.
27040030 Hard coke of coal coke fines / coke breeze and 08 of this
27040040 Soft coke of coal ultra-low phosphorous Chapter.
27040090 Other metallurgical coke with
phosphorous content up to
0.030% with size upto 30 mm
with 5% size tolerance for use in
ef ferroalloy manufacturing" shall
be "Restricted". Import shall be
permitted subject to Policy
Condition 8 of this Chapter.
Other Imports under given ITC
(HS) code shall be 1Free'.Effect of this Notification:
Import of Low Ash Metallurgical Coke (having ash content below 18%), including coke tines/coke
breeze and ultn1-low phosphorous metallurgical coke, falling under ITC (HS) Codes 27040020,
27040030, 27040040 and 27040090, is "Restricted" from O1 .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".
This is issued with the approval of the Minister of Commerce & Industry.
~-
(Lav Agarwal)
Director General of Foreign Trade &
Ex-Officio Addi. Secretary to the Govt. of India
Emai I: dgftta,n ic. in
(Issued from F. No. 01/89/180/23/AM-23/PC-2[A]/E-38692)