Key takeaways
- Nickel alloy scrap enters India under HS 7503.00 and stainless steel scrap under 7204.21; confirm the full tariff line with your broker.
- A pre-shipment inspection certificate from a recognised agency is generally required for metallic scrap imports into India; check current DGFT rules for the shipment's origin and port of entry.
- The PSIC covers explosives and radiation, not the alloy grade, so agree separate grade evidence in the contract.
- Most delays come from material that does not match its documents: one grade per package, weights that reconcile and clean, open material avoid them.
If you want to import metal scrap into India, the paperwork starts long before the container reaches the port. India treats imported metallic scrap as a controlled flow: the material has to be inspected where it is loaded, certified free of explosive and radioactive items, and described so precisely that a customs officer can open the container and recognise what is written on the invoice.
This guide follows a nickel alloy or stainless steel lot from the seller's floor to clearance at an Indian port. It is written for Indian melters and traders buying from abroad, and for overseas sellers shipping to them. If you are on the other side of the trade, buying from India, read the guide for overseas buyers of Indian nickel alloy scrap instead.
What Does India Require to Import Metal Scrap?
India generally requires a pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSIC) for imports of metallic waste and scrap, issued by an inspection agency recognised by the Indian government after it has inspected the material at the loading point. The procedures have provided alternative arrangements for some origins and ports, so check the current DGFT rules for your shipment's origin and port of entry rather than assuming either way. Where a PSIC applies, it sits alongside the usual trade documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and a radiation-free certificate.
Two further points shape every import. First, the contract between the overseas supplier and the Indian importer matters to customs, not just to the two parties. DGFT procedures have long required that contract to state that the consignment contains no arms, ammunition, explosives or radioactive contaminated material. Second, DGFT procedures have historically treated shredded and unshredded scrap differently, with unshredded or loose scrap limited to designated ports. The detailed conditions sit in Chapter 2 of DGFT's Handbook of Procedures and are amended from time to time, so at the time of writing you should check the current text, and the current list of ports, before shipping.
Rules change. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker and the latest DGFT notifications before you sign a contract or book a container.
Which HS Code Applies: 7503 or 7204?
Classification follows the material, not the trade name, so the first job is to know what the lot really is. A drum labelled "Inconel" that turns out to be Incoloy 825 still reads about 42% nickel and 30% iron, while a bundle of 904L pipe, at about 25% nickel and 48% iron, is a stainless steel. Your broker will look at the chemistry, which is why grade evidence travels with the documents.
The headings met most often in this trade are:
| Material | HS heading | Typical grades |
|---|---|---|
| Nickel alloy scrap | 7503.00 | Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel, Incoloy, superalloys |
| Stainless steel scrap | 7204.21 | 304, 316, 310S, duplex, 904L |
| Titanium scrap | 8108.30 | Titanium Grades 2 and 5 |
| Tungsten carbide scrap | 8101.97 | Inserts, end mills, rods |
These are the internationally harmonised six-digit headings. National tariff lines add further digits. Confirm the full Indian tariff line with your customs broker before the contract is signed, because the line also drives duty and any import monitoring that applies.
- Is it nickel-base, such as Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel or Incoloy?YesHS 7503.00, nickel waste and scrap
- Is it stainless, including duplex, 904L or 254 SMO?YesHS 7204.21, waste and scrap of stainless steel
- Is it titanium, commercially pure or alloyed?YesHS 8108.30, titanium waste and scrap
- Is it cemented tungsten carbide?YesHS 8101.97, tungsten waste and scrap
- Mixed or unknown? Sort and identify it before you contract, then ask your broker
What Is a PSIC and Who Issues It?
A PSIC is a certificate from a pre-shipment inspection agency recognised by India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade, confirming that the scrap it inspected is genuine metallic scrap and free of explosive and radioactive material. The inspection takes place at the loading point before the container is sealed, so where a PSIC is needed the container cannot be loaded until the inspector has done the job. Build that into the schedule from day one.
At the time of writing, the certificate format published by DGFT asks the inspector to record far more than a simple pass. It is worth knowing what is on it, because every field is a place where your lot can fail to match.
- Importer and exporternames, addresses and the importer's Importer Exporter Code
- Type of scrapshredded or unshredded
- Where and whencountry, place and date of inspection, and how long it took
- Radiation readingsbackground level at the site and the maximum level on the scrap
- Instrumentmake, model, serial number and calibration date of the survey meter
- Visual inspectionthat the consignment is genuine metallic scrap with no radiation symbols or dangerous-goods markings for radioactive material
- Explosivesfree of arms, ammunition, mines, shells, cartridges and other explosive material
- Evidencevideo of the inspection uploaded as the procedure requires
- Inspectorname, contact details and the agency seal
Notice what the PSIC does not do. It does not certify the alloy grade. An inspector can confirm that a stillage holds metallic scrap and reads at background radiation, but whether those bar ends are UNS N06625 or N07718 is a separate question, settled by the grade evidence you agree in the contract.
How Does the Documentation Flow Work, Step by Step?
An import of nickel alloy or stainless scrap into India moves in a fixed order: grade agreed, contract signed, inspection booked, container loaded and sealed, documents released, and the lot cleared on arrival. Each step depends on the one before.
- 1Describe the lotgrade, UNS number, form, weight, location and photographs
- 2Agree grade and contractreadings or a sample, then grade, quantity, price basis, Incoterm, payment and inspection
- 3Book the inspectiona recognised agency inspects at the loading point and issues the PSIC
- 4Load and sealcontainer stuffed, photographed, weighed and sealed
- 5Release documentsinvoice, packing list, bill of lading, origin and radiation certificates
- 6Clear on arrivaldocuments filed, any port screening done, lot delivered to the buyer
Steps 1 and 2 are where most of the risk is settled. A seller who sends a vague description ("nickel alloy mix, approx 18 MT") forces everybody downstream to guess. A seller who sends a piece-by-piece reading sheet, weights per bag and photographs of every stillage gives the inspector, the broker and the buyer something to check against.
Step 3 needs local coordination. The agency has to be present when the material is stuffed, so the supplier's loading date, the inspector's visit and the shipping line's cut-off must line up. A missed inspection appointment usually means a missed vessel.
Documents to Prepare for an Import into India
A complete import file for scrap has six core documents, plus grade evidence and, for plant scrap, a decontamination declaration. The table shows who normally produces each one and what to check before it is final.
| Document | Usually prepared by | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Supplier | Grade, UNS number, form, net weight and price basis match the contract |
| Packing list | Supplier | Weight of each package adds up to the invoice weight |
| Bill of lading | Shipping line or forwarder | Description and container numbers agree with the invoice |
| Certificate of origin | Authorised body in the country of export | Origin stated matches where the scrap was generated or processed |
| Pre-shipment inspection certificate | Recognised inspection agency | Container numbers, scrap type and radiation readings filled in |
| Radiation-free certificate | Supplier or its appointed surveyor | Readings recorded and the certificate refers to this shipment |
| Decontamination declaration | Supplier, where relevant | Commonly asked for with chemical or oil and gas scrap; states how it was cleaned |
| Grade evidence | Supplier or independent tester | PMI report, photographs and any mill certificates for the lot |
The full export-side view of these papers, including how to word them so they agree with each other, is in our article on scrap export documents.
Contract Clauses That Keep a Scrap Import Clean
A good import contract for alloy scrap fixes the grade and the evidence, not just the price and quantity. Customs sees the result of the contract, so loose wording causes problems at the port as well as between buyer and seller.
- Grade and UNS number. Write "Incoloy 825, UNS N08825", not "Inconel 825" or "nickel alloy". The grade name converter helps when the seller and buyer use different names.
- Form and condition. Solids, pipe, plate, bar ends, turnings or revert; oil-free and dry; coatings declared; attachments removed.
- Weight and tolerance. Quantity per grade with an agreed tolerance, and whose weighbridge decides.
- Safety declaration. The statement that the consignment contains no arms, ammunition, explosives or radioactive contaminated material. Check the exact wording the current procedure requires.
- Inspection. Who books and pays for the PSIC agency, and what happens if the inspection is delayed.
- Grade proof. The method, such as XRF on each solid piece or a lab analysis of a turnings composite, and how a dispute is settled. See positive material identification for scrap lots.
The procurement checklist turns these points into questions you can send to a supplier before you commit.
Why Do Scrap Imports Get Held Up at Indian Ports?
Most delays come from material that does not match its documents. The container is opened, and what is inside is not what the paperwork describes, or the paperwork does not agree with itself.
A Lot That Clears
- One grade per package, labelled grade and weight on every bag or stillage
- Weights reconcile packing list, invoice and weighbridge agree
- Clean and dry no oil, coolant, plastics or sealed vessels
- Evidence attached reading sheet and photographs match the stencils
A Lot That Gets Held
- Mixed grades declared as one a single description over several alloys
- Weights that do not add up package total differs from the invoice
- Residues or closed items oil-soaked turnings, sealed pipe ends, gauges
- Missing or mismatched papers container numbers differ between documents
Sealed or closed items deserve a special mention. A capped pipe spool, a closed valve body or a pressure gauge is a problem for any inspector, because nobody can see inside it. Cut pipe ends open and remove instruments before loading, as set out in the scrap preparation guide.
Importing Turnings, Mixed Lots and Plant Scrap
Turnings, mixed material and scrap from process plants need more preparation than clean solids, because each carries a specific risk that shows up at inspection or in the melt.
Turnings
Nickel alloy turnings arrive in bags or drums, so the inspector sees the surface, not the middle. Agree a sampling plan and a composite analysis in the contract, and insist on dry, oil-free chips. Wet turnings also add weight that the buyer pays for and the melter has to burn off.
Mixed and Unsorted Material
A mixed nickel alloy lot can be imported, but it must be declared as what it is. The trouble starts when a plant clear-out is invoiced as a single grade. Sort it before it ships, or describe it honestly and price it accordingly.
Chemical and Oil and Gas Scrap
Equipment from chemical plants and oil and gas facilities often needs a written decontamination declaration stating how it was drained and cleaned. Tube bundles and vessels can hold process residues that are a safety issue in the container and a contamination issue in the furnace. Tramp elements such as lead and sulfur from residues are covered in tramp elements and remelting.
Importing Metal Scrap into India Through Mipra Steel
Mipra Steel imports and buys nickel alloy and stainless steel scrap described by grade, from Mumbai. When an overseas supplier offers a lot, we ask for the grade evidence first: readings, certificates and photographs, along with the form, weight and location. We'll review your enquiry against the description and documents before a lot is booked.
If you are an overseas seller, tell us the grade and UNS number, form, approximate weight, loading port and what evidence you hold. Our nickel alloy scrap importing page explains what we buy, and high-nickel alloy scrap in India describes where imported material is used.
Submit a requirement with the grade, form, quantity and delivery location.
Source a GradeFAQ
Do you need a PSIC to import scrap into India?
Generally, yes. India generally requires a pre-shipment inspection certificate for imports of metallic waste and scrap, issued by a government-recognised inspection agency after it has inspected the material at the loading point. The procedures have provided alternative arrangements for some origins and ports, so check the current DGFT rules for your shipment's origin and port of entry. Where a PSIC applies, the inspection happens before the container is sealed and has to be scheduled with the loading date.
What HS code is used to import nickel alloy scrap into India?
Nickel alloy scrap is classified under HS 7503.00, nickel waste and scrap. Stainless steel scrap uses 7204.21, titanium scrap 8108.30 and tungsten carbide scrap 8101.97. These are six-digit international headings; the Indian tariff line adds further digits, so confirm the full line with your customs broker before the contract is signed.
What documents does an Indian buyer need from a scrap supplier?
A commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, pre-shipment inspection certificate and radiation-free certificate. Add grade evidence such as a PMI report and photographs, and a decontamination declaration for scrap from chemical or oil and gas plants. Every document should describe the same grade, form, weight and container numbers.
Does the PSIC prove the alloy grade of the scrap?
No. The PSIC confirms that the consignment is genuine metallic scrap and free of explosive and radioactive material, and records radiation readings at the inspection site. It does not certify whether a lot is Inconel 625, Hastelloy C-276 or 316 stainless. Grade is proved separately, with XRF or OES readings, a lab analysis or traceable mill certificates, as agreed in the contract.
Who pays for the pre-shipment inspection?
The contract decides. In practice the party closest to the loading point often arranges the agency visit, but the cost can sit with either side. Write it down, together with what happens if the inspection is delayed or the inspector cannot attend on the loading date, because a missed inspection usually means a missed vessel and extra container charges.
Can nickel alloy turnings be imported into India?
Yes, turnings are metallic scrap and are imported under the same headings as solids of the same alloy, such as HS 7503.00 for nickel alloy turnings. They need more care: agree a sampling plan and composite analysis, and ship them dry and oil-free. Check the current DGFT conditions for the form of scrap and the port of entry before you book.
What happens if an imported scrap lot does not match its documents?
The consignment can be held for examination while customs checks the mismatch, which adds port and container charges and may lead to further action. Common causes are mixed grades declared as one, weights that do not reconcile and residues or sealed items. Sorting by grade, proving it with readings and describing the lot exactly avoid most of these problems.
