MYSTEEL: A reprieve for China's stainless sector as India extends QCO exemptions

India's Ministry of Steel has extended exemptions under the Quality Control Order (QCO) for the import of key stainless steel flat-rolled products, a move to secure the supply of crucial steel items while the domestic industry rushes ahead with capacity expansions, the ministry has announced.

The exemption for three Indian Standards (IS) applicable to stainless steel flat products – namely IS 6911, IS 5522 and IS 15997 – has been extended till March 2026 from December 31, 2025. The QCO prevents steel products that are not compliant with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from