Steel sector seeks govt support on lines of textiles, sugar
India’s steel industry, which is facing a crisis due to cheap imports and subdued prices, has sought a government support package on the lines of the ones extended to textiles and sugar sectors.
After lobbying for imposition of import duty, safeguard duty and anti-dumping duty on imports from China, South Korea and Japan, the over USD 100 billion industry has now approached the government for a comprehensive Steel Package.
The demand includes a year-long moratorium on payment of interest and principle amount as well as segregation of debt into two categories – Sustainable and Balance.
According to analysts, domestic steel companies are sitting on a debt burden of Rs 3 lakh crore and falling prices have led to steeply lower realisation making it difficult to service the debt burden.
Besides, cheap imports from China, South Korea and Japan among others have further exacerbated the situation leading to a decline in the share of the firms in the domestic market.
As per industry, the sector’s share in gross non- performing assets as well as restructured standard advances of scheduled commercial banks is 10-11 percent.
Besides, an estimated 26 percent of the total advances to the iron and steel sector are under stress. In a presentation made to the Steel Ministry last week, companies said cheap imports and fall in prices of steel products are eating into their working capital funds and is impacting their debt servicing capacity.
That apart, investments to expand capacity has led to large borrowings and huge financial charges.
Appreciating the efforts taken by the government to help the sector, the firms in their presentation said that there is an “urgent need for a far more comprehensive relief (Steel Package) involving participation from all stakeholders, including the Banking sector”.
Read full article: Money Control
