Archive · 21 Jan 2026
SC Overturns 2018 Delhi HC Order on Steel Import Price
The Supreme Court recently made a big decision about steel imports.
In 2016, the government set a minimum price for importing steel to stop very cheap steel from countries like China and South Korea.
This rule was first put on the government's website on February 5, but it was officially published in the Gazette on February 11.
Some companies had already ordered steel before the official publication and argued that they should not have to pay the extra price.
The Supreme Court agreed with these companies and said that the rule should only apply to orders made after the official publication date.
This means that the companies that ordered steel between February 5 and February 11 do not have to pay the extra price.
The Supreme Court set aside a 2018 Delhi High Court order that upheld the government's minimum import price (MIP) on mild steel.
The court ruled in favor of importers who had made firm commercial commitments before the MIP was officially published.
The MIP was first posted on the DGFT website on February 5, 2016, but officially published in the Gazette on February 11, 2016.
Importers argued that the rule should only apply to orders made after the official publication date in the Gazette.
The Supreme Court's decision protects importers who had opened Letters of Credit (LoCs) between February 5 and February 11, 2016.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Vinayaga Marine Petro, Viraj Impex, K. Amishkumar Trading, RKB Global
- What
- Supreme Court overturned a 2018 Delhi High Court order on the minimum import price (MIP) for mild steel
- When
- The decision was made on a Wednesday (unspecified date); the MIP was imposed in February 2016
- Where
- India, with steel imports from South Korea and China
- Why
- To protect importers who had made firm commercial commitments before the MIP was officially published
- Date of Supreme Court Decision
- Wednesday (unspecified date)
- Importers Involved
- Vinayaga Marine Petro, Viraj Impex, K. Amishkumar Trading, RKB Global
- MIP Imposition Date
- February 5, 2016 (website) / February 11, 2016 (Gazette)
- Affected Countries
- China, South Korea
- Key Legal Provision
- Paragraph 1.05(b) of the foreign trade policy (FTP)
- Supreme Court Bench
- Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe