NEW DELHI, May 22 (Reuters) - India's Ministry of Steel has asked the finance ministry to withdraw anti-dumping tariffs on low-ash metallurgical coke imports, citing inadequate domestic supplies and higher prices, according to a government document reviewed by Reuters.

India, the world's second-largest crude steel producer, imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of low-ash metallurgical coke - known as met coke - in December for six months.

India primarily imports met coke from China, Indonesia, Poland, Japan and Switzerland. Import volumes are down sharply since the curbs were imposed, industry experts say.

"Concerns have emerged regarding the limited availability of met coke in the domestic market and a substantial increase in domestic prices following the imposition of ADD, which has imposed a significant financial burden on steel manufacturers," the steel ministry said in an office memorandum dated May 18, referring to anti-dumping duties with an acronym.

The ministries did not respond to emails from Reuters seeking comment.

The steel ministry highlighted the difficulties faced by state-run Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL),  saying the company had been unable to procure adequate quantities of met coke at reasonable prices from the domestic market, resulting in a 20% rise in input costs.

CONCERNS FOR ‌SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED STEELMAKERS

RINL, which is undergoing a government-backed financial revival, has seen its operational viability and competitiveness adversely affected by inadequate supplies of met coke, the steel ministry memorandum said.

RINL did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comment.

The ministry also flagged concerns for small and medium-sized steelmakers, which rely heavily on merchant suppliers for met coke.

"The domestic market has not been able to ensure adequate availability of met coke at competitive rates to meet the requirements of the steel industry," it said.

Steel mills have struggled to procure met coke ever since the government introduced import curbs from January ?last year. Major steelmakers, including JSW Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, have also raised concern about the impact of the curbs on steel production in the country.

In 2025, met coke imports fell 21% to 3.81 million metric ?tons compared to a year ago, according to data from commodities consultancy BigMint.

India's steel mills secured only about half of their metallurgical coke needs from domestic suppliers in the first half of 2025, Reuters reported in October.