The Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association has urged the Government to reduce the import duty on primary aluminium, stating that the measure would help rationalise domestic prices and provide relief to downstream manufacturers facing elevated input costs. The association noted that hundreds of MSMEs form a crucial part of the downstream aluminium ecosystem, contributing significantly to value addition and industrial growth.

In its communication to the Government, ASMA said the duty structure is raising raw-material costs for producers of extrusions, castings and other value-added aluminium products. Primary aluminium, produced from alumina through an electrolytic process, differs from secondary aluminium sourced from recycled scrap, and represents a major cost component for manufacturers. The association emphasised that a duty reduction would strengthen competitiveness and support the broader manufacturing sector.