AAI calls for hike in import duty on aluminium products

HYDERABAD: The Aluminium Association of India ( AAI) has requested the government to enhance import duties on aluminium products to protect domestic industry.

K S S Murthy, General Secretary of AAI said the industry body has sought an immediate intervention of the government on the issue.

"We have requested the government to impose taxes on import in such way that the landing price of the product should be higher than that of the domestic price," Murthy told a press conference today adding the cabinet is expected to approve the demand made by the AAI.

The almunium industry has planned major capacity expansions involving investments of over Rs 1.2 lakh crore that would take production capacity to five million ton per annum by 2017 against 1.5 million ton now.

Murthy said the aluminium consumption is expected to come largely from packaging, automobiles, power generation and transmission, railways, aviation and telecom sectors.

According to AAI eastimates, the packaging sector alone is estimated to consume 15-20 per cent of the domestic aluminium production.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad will be hosting INCAL 2011, the sixth international conference on aluminium, organized once in every four years, from December 6 to 8, AAI said.