India’s imports of seamless pipes from China double in FY25, raising industry and security concerns

India’s imports of seamless pipes and tubes from China have more than doubled in FY25, reaching 4.97 lakh metric tonnes, according to data from the Seamless Tube Manufacturers’ Association of India (STMAI). This marks a sharp increase from 2.44 lakh tonnes imported in the previous fiscal year and nearly a five-fold jump compared to FY22 levels.

Industry data shows a steady rise in imports: 82,528 tonnes in FY22, 1.47 lakh tonnes in FY23, and 2.44 lakh tonnes in FY24, culminating in this year’s sharp spike.

According to STMAI, Chinese suppliers are dumping seamless pipes into the Indian market by manipulating customs declarations. “Importers are allegedly over-invoicing products at the time of customs clearance and then selling them in India at much lower prices than domestic products,”, it stated. It further added that This practice distorts fair competition and puts Indian manufacturers at a severe disadvantage.

The association warned that this influx of underpriced and substandard Chinese pipes not only damages the Indian manufacturing sector but also raises serious national security concerns. These pipes are being used in strategic sectors such as thermal and nuclear power, and oil and gas, where material quality is critical.

The minimum import price for seamless pipes stands at around ₹85,000 per tonne, while Chinese products are being sold for as low as ₹70,000 per tonne in smaller markets. This significant price gap has led to underutilization of domestic production capacity and job losses in the Indian steel and pipe industry.

The STMAI has urged the government to strengthen anti-dumping mechanisms, tighten customs scrutiny, and enforce stricter quality control norms to prevent the continued influx of low-cost imports. The industry body emphasized that immediate action is essential to protect India’s domestic manufacturing base and ensure the integrity of its critical infrastructure sectors.