State-run BHEL and many other Indian electrical equipment makers, especially insulators, have informed the government that they are losing out on local orders due to "predatory prices" offered by Chinese companies.
BHEL, a leading power equipment maker, recently informed the government that "Chinese producers are quoting predatory prices (for electrical insulators) purely to increase their share of the Indian market".
Electrical insulators are materials that help in stabilising the flow of electricity through grids.
Going by information provided by various domestic entities to the government, predatory pricing tactics of Chinese players are hurting the local industry.
"... The share of domestic producers in the PGCIL orders, who accounts for 50-70% of insulator consumption in India, has come down from 90% in 2007-08 to presently just 10% as the remaining share of orders has been captured by Chinese suppliers," according to information given by domestic players to Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) in the Finance Ministry.
Acting on the complaint of domestic manufacturers, DGS has imposed 35% safeguard duty on electrical insulators imported from China, a move aimed at helping domestic players compete effectively with cheap shipments.
According to information given to the DGS, despite successful technical bids, Indian bidders have lost orders just because prices quoted by Chinese producers were much lower than prices offered by domestic firms.
"The company (BHEL) is reported to be suffering significant financial losses and despite having enough capacity to manufacture and supply, it has been unable to receive orders for HVDC Insulators due to steep reduction in prices by the Chinese manufacturers," a DGS document said.
The government's safeguard duty on certain insulators would be for a period of two years -- 35% for first year and 25% in the subsequent year.
The DGS, after a probe following the domestic industry complaint, said: "It will be in the public interest to impose safeguard duty on import of electrical insulators from People's Republic of China."
