"The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has urged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to extend the Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) Scheme for aluminium-producing units operating under Advance Authorisation (AA), Export Oriented Units (EOUs), and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

This appeal follows a similar request made by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) to the Ministry of Finance, citing the need to safeguard the competitiveness of nearly 45 per cent of India’s aluminium exports originating from AA/EOU/SEZ units.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Shri Sunil Barthwal, FIMI noted that the lapse in RoDTEP coverage beyond 5 February 2025 places Indian producers at a 5-10 per cent cost disadvantage due to embedded taxes. The sector, with $20 billion in investments and 4.1 million tonnes annual capacity, is the world’s second-largest aluminium producer.

FIMI warned that delays could lead to production cuts, job losses, and reduced domestic value addition. While the scheme had been extended thrice, the industry awaits formal notification of coverage post 6 February 2025."