Primary aluminium makers, secondary producers spar over imports, prices

The domestic aluminium industry is going through a tough phase and struggling to be cost competitive with production costs by Indian producers occupying the highest quartile in the curve

The primary aluminium manufacturers and their counterparts in secondary re-melting industry have locked horns over an array of issues concerning the domestic market with imports and metal prices being the most contentious points.

Reacting to a string of allegations made by Aluminium Secondary Manufacturers Association (ASMA), the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has written to the Prime Minister's Officer (PMO), with a point wise rebuttal.

Responding to the allegation that primary producers are supplying in the domestic market at prices 14 per cent higher than international prices, AAI clarified that aluminium prices are linked with London Metal Exchange (LME) prices