Automotive exhaust system manufacturers and exporters in the country, using high grade imported stainless steel for producing critical exhaust components for cars and other vehicles have urged the ministry of finance to immediately withdraw anti dumping duty on import of certain category of cold rolled stainless steel used by the industry.

Mr Yogesh Bhatia chairman of International Tube Association India chapter said that "Union commerce ministry has already recommended removal of anti dumping duty on cold rolled stainless steel not manufactured in India long back, but ministry of finance has yet to issue the necessary notification. The automotive exhaust system manufacturers and exporters in the country are suffering due to higher duty on imports of raw materials. The certain grades and quality of stainless steel needed for critical components are not manufactured in India."

He added that "India is major manufacturer and exporter of the critical parts of any automobile exhaust system which includes resonator, catalytic converter, exhaust pipe, muffler, tail pipe, Y pipe and ball flanges. All of these components are especially designed for providing suitable and effective exhaust flow, silencing, and emission levels. All these components are produced with special high grade imported stainless steel not manufactured in India. The one produced by domestic stainless steel producer is not approved by International auto companies."

Mr Bhatia said that "Exhaust Pipes for automobiles are explicitly engineered to carry or transmit various toxic and noxious gases away from the users of the machine. Usually, exhaust gases are very hot, that is why exhaust pipes must be durable and heat resistant so that it does not get spoiled by heat. These critical components are made from special grade stainless steel as it has potential as a material for automotive components for its high strength to weight ratio for overall weight reduction, good dent performance, corrosion resistance."

Mr Mukul Verma MD of Kuma Stainless Tubes Limited said that "India is major player in the global market field of automotive exhaust systems. Indian companies manufacture these components for world’s major automobile companies including Suzuki, GM, BMW, Nissan, Vilkswagon, Chrysler, Ford, Mercedes, Volvo, Fiat, Yamaha, Honda, Tata’s and Mahindra's from imported stainless steel. The levy of dumping duty at behest of a manufacturer not producing high grade of stainless steel with adversely affect the auto component industry in the country."