S C Ralhan that if Indonesia can announce ban
on its palm oil exports to help their domestic industry, "why can't our
government take some similar measures" to help the engineering sector
which has contributed over USD 111 billion in the country's total merchandise
exports of USD 420 billion during 2021-22. New Delhi: The surge in steel prices in the domestic market is badly affecting the country's MSME engineering exporters and the government should immediately announce urgent
measures to help them sustain in the global markets, Hand Tools Association
said on Wednesday. Hand Tools Association President S C Ralhan said that the prices of hot rolled sheets have jumped
to over Rs 80,000 per tonne from Rs 30,000 per tonne two years back.
He said that if Indonesia can announce ban on its
palm oil exports to help their domestic industry, "why can't our government take some similar
measures" to help the engineering sector which has contributed over USD
111 billion in the country's total merchandise exports of USD 420 billion
during 2021-22.
"The significant surge in prices has hit the
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) so badly that they are unable to sustain in the competitive
world market, and it is also affecting the whole idea of make in India,"
Ralhan said.
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Engineering exporters need alloy and other
inputs at affordable rates so that export competitiveness of value-added
products is maintained in the global markets, he added.
Several competing countries, particularly China,
provide support to manufacturing units by providing steel and other inputs at
much reasonable prices to boost competitiveness of their engineering sector in
the global markets, Ralhan said.
He said that India is gradually losing out its
markets to other countries in the value-added segment of exports.
Sharing similar views, Mumbai-based exporter and
founder chairman of Technocraft Industries India Sharad Kumar Saraf said that
the prices are hitting the enginnering exporters.
"We would urge the government for its
immediate intervention in the matter," Saraf said.
Federation of Indian Export Organiations (FIEO) Vice President Khalid Khan too said
that in the given situation, the MSME industry needs to be provided steel at
reasonable prices so that export competitiveness of value-added products is
maintained.