Heavy metal scrap ban at minor ports

The Director-General of Foreign Trade today issued a notification banning import of any heavy melting scrap (HMS) in any of the minor ports.

Though the notification will hit the revenues of minor port operators, most of which are based in Gujarat, it comes as a boon for major ports as they will be the only ones allowed to import HMS and compact shredded scrap.

However, as the government has notified a stringent policy for handling of HMS, major port operators feel it will lead to delays in unloading of cargo, thus raising the usual turnaround time of a scrap-loaded ship at the ports.

"Apparently, this new notification by DGFT is discriminatory as it will harm the interests of minor ports in India," said Sanjay Gupta, president, Gujarat Private Ports, Special Economic Zone Association.