EEPC INDIA :: Info Bulletin

My dear fellow exporters,

The latest release of India’s foreign trade data for the month of February 2020 came with a sigh of relief for the Indian exporting community as the Indian merchandise exports increased by 2.91 percent after 5 months of decline. At the same time engineering exports also increased by 3.5 percent after 2 consecutive months of decline.

While this is a positive news, we have to practice cautiousness in coming years given the negative impact of the coronavirus outbreak on global trade. The disease designated as a pandemic by WHO has its origin in China and has already claimed more than 7000 lives worldwide and is expected to have ‘substantial’ negative impact on global trade as per WTO. At this juncture I would also like to congratulate our government for the steps adopted by them to overcome this crisis. The government has already started consulting the industry to identify the supply chain issues that that Indian businesses may face. Simultaneously through the Indian Missions abroad, the government is engaging with industries in different countries to identify areas where Indian exports can replace the disrupted Chinese supplies. The information gathered is being regularly shared with the councils and industry associations and members are encouraged to take upon them. We strongly feel that such steps will go a long way in protecting our exporters from the crisis. Additionally it may provide new market opportunities for them.

With these steps we strongly hope that Indian exporters would be able to remain protected from this crisis.

Ravi Sehgal

Amidst India’s faltering merchandise export growth and prolonged contraction in export credit growth, exporters have at least seen some silver lining as both the domestic government and the monetary regulatory authority RBI have been in consultation to ease priority sector lending norms for exports in order to ensure higher flow of credit towards export sector, according to news source. The Commerce and Industry minister has very recently held a meeting with senior public-sector bankers to push for easier and higher flow of credit disbursalfor exporters at cheaper rates. The government is expected to announce a slew of measures to boost export growth very soon while the RBI is also likely to change credit norms in favour of the exporters.

The measures to reinvigorate export credit has been the demand of the exporters as many MSME exporters have already been forced to go out of business due to excessive financial crunch and many are facing the same threat. To ensure availability of hassle-free credit to small exporters is a priority for the commerce minister.According to the latest RBI data, export credit of scheduled banks shrank as much as 36.1% year-on-year as of June 21, even on a low base of 42.7% contraction a year earlier.

The interest subvention provided to the exporters to the extent of three to five percent on bank credit has to make way for suitable alternative as WTO has raised objection to this kind of schemes on the ground of non-compliance. An alternative mechanism to facilitate export credit is desperately required. EEPC India has already suggested refund of embedded taxes for the exporters.

EEPC India, as a premiere trade and investment promotion body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, wholeheartedly thank the government for its initiative to revive exports from India.

Australia
(Source : Consulate General of India, Sydney)

During Jan-Nov 2019, Australia exported merchandise goods to India worth USD 8.87 billion, while importing goods worth USD 2.95 billion from India. The total merchandise trade between India and Australia decreased from USD 14.9 billion to USD 11.8 billion between Jan-Nov 2018 and Jan-Nov 2019, with a decrease of 20.8 percent. Indian merchandise exports to Australia for the period witnessed a decrease of 21 percent compared to the same period in 2018. During Jan-Nov 2019 Australia’s export to India declined by 20 percent.

During the reporting period, the top 10 commodities of export from India to Australia included Medicaments, Refined petroleum oils, Railway vehicles, Pearls & precious stones, Jewellery, made up articles of textile materials, Women or girls clothing, Articles of apparels & textile fabrics, Manufactures of base metal and Floor coverings.

Medicaments and Refined petroleum oils were the top two Indian exports to Australia with Made in India railway vehicles featuring as 3^rd largest export item from India to Australia during Jan-Nov 2019. More than US$ 218 million worth of Indian made railway vehicles were exported. It may be mentioned that New South Wales Government ordered 22 driverless metro trains of 6 coaches each built by Alstom in Sri City, India. The metro coaches, built for the Australian government, was the first of its kind India has ever exported. The new train is capable of being operated automatically through the Automatic Train Protection and Automatic Train Operation (ATP/ATO) modes with the help of Alstom’s Urbalis 400 communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling solution.

Export of ‘Coal’ from Australia to India was the main contributor for the volume of bilateral trade between the countries during the reporting period, with a value of USD 6.69 billion, amounting to 75 % of Australia’s total exports to India.

Potential products of imports from India

Passenger motor vehicles and automotive parts - With major automakers (Toyota, Ford and Holden) have taken their manufacturing outside of Australia in 2017, the Australian market presents a positive picture for Indian auto and auto component manufacturers. While the end of local vehicle manufacturing spells a reduction in demand for parts and accessories manufactured in Australia, it creates a platform for major Indian auto component manufacturers to collaborate/ have joint ventures with Australian manufacturing companies to supply the aftermarket with genuine spares.

Mozambique
(Source : High Commission of India, Maputo)

High Commission of India organized a business conference in the IT sector: On December 10, High Commission of India in Maputo, in collaboration with Mozambican Association of Information Technology Professionals and Enterprises (AMPETIC), organized a business conference titled ‘‘Business Potential between India and Mozambique in the sector of Information Technology and Communication’’, in Maputo. The Conference was presided by the Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Professional Education, Mr. Celso Laice. Representatives of four Indian IT companies came from India to attend the conference. The conference provided a platform for Indian and Mozambican companies in the ICT sector to showcase their innovative ideas, new technologies, products, services and business corridors. It also provided a platform to enhance trade and investment in ICT sector between the two countries. The conference was followed by B2B meetings between Indian and Mozambican companies. High Commissioner, Shri Rajeev Kumar highlighted India’s investment in different sectors in Mozambique, particularly in gas and coal sector. HC informed about the position of bilateral trade between both the countries and also noted that India is the biggest export destination of Mozambican goods and services. HC also mentioned the potential of business and trade in ICT sector between India and Mozambique and encouraged Mozambican business people to attend IndiaSoft event in Hyderabad in March 2020 for more future cooperation. Permanent Secretary, Mr. Celso Laice congratulated High Commission of India and AMPETIC for this initiative, noted India’s assistance for the establishment of Maluana IT Park in Maputo and also stressed on more cooperation from India in ICT sector. Representatives of more than 70 Indian and Mozambican companies of the ICT sector attended the conference which was well covered by electronic and print media.

Venezuela
(Source : Embassy of India, Caracas)

Indian oil firms to wind down business in Venezuela fearing US sanctions: According to media reports, Indian refiners Reliance Industries Limited and Nayara Energy are planning to wind down purchases of Venezuelan oil in April fearing future U.S. sanctions could choke off all avenues to trade with state-run oil firm PDVSA. Such a step by Reliance, would severely curtail purchases by one of Venezuela`s last big export destinations. India accounted for about a third of Venezuela`s oil shipments in January. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned in New Delhi this week of an increase in sanctions on Venezuela. The U.S. Government set a 20 May 2020 deadline for companies to wind down purchases from Rosneft. Reliance, a long-time customer of PDVSA, has so far not placed requests for April cargoes, one of the sources said. Nayara Energy, partially owned by Rosneft, is planning to stop processing Venezuelan oil at its refineries after receiving two cargoes that are scheduled for loading in March, two of the sources said. It will lift no shipments of Venezuelan crude in April "since RTSA (Rosneft Trading SA) was doing all that business and no one else will pick it up," one of the sources said, given shipping times.

Potential products of exports for India

Auto-parts - India is one of the top manufacturers of auto-parts in the world. Venezuela is in dire need of auto-parts for all kinds of vehicles.

Oil and gas machinery and spare parts - Venezuela needs oil and gas industry machinery and spare parts to reactivate their oil industry. The Venezuelan oil industry uses machinery and parts which are US standards compliant, and India manufactures such items compliant with US standards at lower rates.

Electric Steel - Venezuelan power generation industry requires an approximate of 5,326 metric tons of two grades of electric steel to be used in the recovery of 20,000 transformers in 2020.

India`s Reliance says purchases of Venezuelan oil have been approved by the U.S: India’s refining firm Reliance Industries said on 06 February 2020 that its purchases of Venezuelan crude were reported and approved by the U.S. government amid sanctions imposed by Washington since early 2019 on PDVSA.

Indian buyers of Venezuela oil vowed compliance as US sanctions hit Rosneft: Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries is studying the impact of the newly imposed U.S. sanctions on a unit of Russia’s Rosneft over trade of Venezuelan crude oil, and would make sure that its purchases from Venezuela comply with the U.S. regulations. “Reliance will continue its direct communications with the U.S. Government to ensure that Reliance’s purchases of Venezuelan oil after the Rosneft Trading SA (RTSA) sanctions are both compliant with U.S. sanctions and consistent with U.S. policies regarding Venezuelan oil sector,” the Indian company said in a statement.

Indian oil firms to wind down business in Venezuela fearing US sanctions: Indian refiners Reliance Industries Limited and Nayara Energy are reportedly planning to wind down purchases of Venezuelan oil in April fearing future U.S. sanctions could choke off all avenues to trade with state-run oil firm PDVSA. Such a step by Reliance, would severely curtail purchases by one of Venezuela`s last big export destinations. India accounted for about a third of Venezuela`s oil shipments in January. The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned during his visit to India in February of an increase in sanctions on Venezuela. The U.S. Government set a 20 May 2020 deadline for companies to wind down purchases from Rosneft.

Jamaica

(EEPC Ref. No. DB-2420)

Project	Jamaica Strategic Public Sector Transformation Loan No. : IBRD-84060 Project ID No. : P146688
DB Ref. No.	WB-P503534-03/20
Issued by	Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project 30 National Heroes Circle Kingston 4, Jamaica Attn. : The Procurement Specialist Tel. : 1(876)932-5474 E-mail : spstp@mof.gov.jm
Bid No.	JM-MOFPS-151775-GO-RFB
For	Supply and installation of Measurement Equipment and Standards for the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), specifically, Temperature Metrology Laboratory Equipment.
Bid Security	One Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars (US$ 1,500.00) is required.
Bid deadline	*09.04.2020*

Bahrain

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2880)

Tender No.	CSD-906 (PT/CSD/MM/2020/032)
Tender for	Switches
Tender details	Supply of 6,000 switches for the photo-electric control of street lighting.
Bid bond	BD 500
Cost of tender documents	BD 15
Closing date	*01.04.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Central Stores Directorate P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Kuwait

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2882)

Tender No.	MEW/48/2018/2019
Tender for	Electricity and water meters
Tender details	Replacement, maintenance and installation of electricity and water meters and carrying out disconnection and connection works for the Hawally, Mubarak al-Kabeer and Ahmadi governorates.
Bid bond	KD 100,000
Cost of tender documents	KD 3,500
Closing date	*12.04.2020*
Issued by	Central Tenders Committee Electricity & Water Ministry P. O. Box 1070 Safat 13011, Kuwait Tel. : (965) 2401200 Fax : (965) 2416574 E-mail : info@ctc.gov.kw Website : www.ctc.gov.kw; www.capt.gov.kw

Kuwait

(EEPC Ref. No. MEED-2884)

Tender No.	RFQ-2071543
Tender for	CS saw pipe
Tender details	Supply of CS saw pipe.
Bid bond	KD 2,500
Cost of tender documents	KD 150
Closing date	*08.06.2020*
Issued by	Kuwait Oil Company P. O. Box 9758 Ahmadi 61008, Kuwait Tel. : (965) 23989111 E-mail : kocinfo@kockw.com Website : www.kockw.com

Steel Market Current Report

Mandi Gobindgarh
Open Market Rates of Rerollables (March 14, 2020)

(Exclusive of GST) (Trade Terms 1% Cash Discount)

(Rate Rs. per Tonne)

Ingot
Arc/Ind. Furnace
Round quality (21x25)	31,200
Structural quality (28x30)	31,300
Low carbon (12x16)	-
Semi low carbon (18x21)	31,250
5x6 Girder quality (25x30)	-
Runners/Risers	31,400
Bones/Clean	-

Billets & Squares
50x50x63x63x65x65 mm MS	-
75x75x80x80x90x90 mm MS	31,500
100x100 mm MS2	31,500
125x125 mm MS/ Concast	-
100x100 mm Concast-Billets	31,600
100x100 Concast-SAIL DSP	31,600
H.C. Billet SAIL 150x150 mm)	-
H.C. Billet-Tisco 75x75 mm)	-

Blooms
Above 251 mm Bloom (HC)	28,100
Above 251 mm Bloom (MS)	28,100
(DSP) Bloom 160x250 mm	28,100
130/135/140 mm (Tisco) MS	-
150x150 mm Concast (DSP)	31,100
150x150 mm MS (SAIL)	31,100
Bloom Cut into pcs. (MS)	32,100
Bloom Cut into pcs. (Medium)	31,300
Bloom Cut into (Patra Pass)	31,300

Slabs
Durgapur Slabs 14"x3"	-
Durgapur Slabs	-
Bokaro Slab Heavy	-
Tata Concast Slab (Heavy)	-
Skelp Tisco	-

Rails
Untested Rail - 75 lbs.	25,800
Untested Rail - 90 lbs.	25,800
Untested Rail - 105 lbs.	25,700
Rej. Wheel (Small)	25,700
Cut Tyre (Big)	32,600
Cut Tyre (Small)	26,600

Melting Scrap (F.O.R.)
Fresh Scrap (Rolling Mill End)	25,900
Old Scrap (Godown)	22,000
Turning	21,100
Tin Tapper	23,500
Mill Scale	18,300
Sponge Iron	21,500

Pig Iron (F.O.R.)
Foundry Grade	30,500
Steel Grade	23,200
C.I. Turning	16,100
Degi Scrap	23,600
Deg Casting	36,100
Ingot Moulds (Old)	22,700
Ingot Moulds (New)	34,800
Cut Ingot Moulds	21,600

Open Market Rates of Finished Goods (March 14, 2020)
(Inclusive of GST)

(Rate per Qntl.)

M. S. Rounds	4 mm	5 mm	6 mm	8 mm	10 mm	12 mm	16/20 mm	22/25 mm
Mild	4240	4260	4260	4270	4230	4330	4410	4270
Zindi Pass (Drawing)	-	-	-	4260	4330	4330	4430	4430

Above rates of 6 mm rounds are of length up to 14’ Above 18’ = 4300

Heavy Rounds	28 to 53 mm	63 to 100 mm	110 to 125 mm	140 to 150 mm	165 mm	180 mm	200 mm
Mild	4390	4390	4410	4410	4420	4430	4310

M. S. Squares	4 mm	5 mm	6 mm	8 mm	10 mm	12 mm	16/20 mm	22/25 mm
Mild	4460	4460	4430	4490	4490	4490	4430	4420

M. S. Angles	20 mm	25 mm	32 mm	40 mm	50 mm	65 mm	75 mm	100 mm	110 mm	150 mm	200 mm
3 mm	4280	4240	4290	4360	4360	4430	-	-	-	-	-
5 mm	–	4130	4240	4360	4360	4430	4460	4360	-	-	-
6 mm	–	4320	4320	4360	4360	4430	4460	4450	-	-	-
8 mm	-	-	-	4330	4430	4430	4450	4450	-	-	-
10 mm	–	-	-	4330	4430	4430	4450	4510	4450	-	-
12 mm	–	-	-	4330	4430	4110	4430	4440	-	4530	-
16 mm	–	-	-	4330	4430	4440	4430	4510	-	-	-

M. S. Flats	20 mm	25 mm	32 mm	40 mm	50 mm	65 mm	75 mm	100 mm
3 mm	4240	4230	4240	4270	4370	4330	-	-
5 mm	4240	4230	4240	4240	4470	4530	4470	4470
6 mm	4270	4300	4240	4240	4390	4520	4470	4470
8 mm	-	-	4120	4240	4340	4480	4450	4470
10 mm	-	-	4110	4240	4340	4480	4450	4450
12/25 mm	-	-	4110	4240	4340	4480	4450	4450
18/19 Gauge	4090	4170	4320	4240	4340	4450	4450	4450

[Prices at other stockyards may vary] Source : Steel Town (Weekly), March 14, 2020]

Project	Livestock and Market Development Project-2 IFAD Loan No. : 2000000438 IFAD Grant No. : 2000000439 Trust Grant No. : 2000000440
DB Ref. No.	UN-P503366-03/20
Issued by	Agricultural Projects Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic 96a Kievskaya Street, Office 511 720040 Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic Tel. : +996 312 66 56 25 Fax : +996 312 66 15 72 Attn. : Tamchybek Tuleev, APIU Director E-mail : office@apiu.kg; a.mamkulov@apiu.kg; i.turdaliev@apiu.kg
Contract No.	LMDP-2\AKJ\Seed Cleaners\ICB-04\19\Retender
For	Supply of seed cleaning machines for CSFs of Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul and Naryn oblasts.
Tender cost	Non-refundable fee of KGS 2100 or equivalent in US$ 30 by transferring of fee to APIU following account : Livestock and Market Development Project-2 INT 02506201310241 Bishkek, 96A Kievskaya Street OJSC «RSK», BIC 129001 Account No. : 1299004220002601 – KGS Account No. : 1299004220002597 – US Dollar The document will be sent by e-mail (PDF format) or airmail for overseas delivery and surface mail or courier for local delivery.
Bid Security	Not less than US$ 11,200 (US Dollars eleven thousand two hundred) or an equivalent amount in a freely convertible currency.
Bid deadline	*08.04.2020*
Source	UN Development Business Website

H.O. (Cell)	REGISTERED & HEAD OFFICE
Suranjan Gupta Executive Director EEPC INDIA Vandhna (4th Floor) 11 Tolstoy Marg New Delhi 110 001 Tel.: 91-11-23353353, 23711124/25 Fax : 91-11-23310920 E-mail : eepcto@eepcindia.net URL : www.eepcindia.org	Adhip Mitra Addl. Executive Director & Secretary EEPC INDIA Vanijya Bhavan (1st Floor) International Trade Facilitation Centre 1/1 Wood Street, Kolkata 700 016 Tel.: 91-33-22890651/52/53 Fax : 91-33-22890654 E-mail : eepcho@eepcindia.net URL : www.eepcindia.org

Contents

From Chairman’s Pen

OVERSEAS SECTION

Global Business Opportunities

DOMESTIC SECTION

Highlights

Overseas Information

OVERSEAS MARKET INFORMATION

TENDER INFORMATION

TRADE ENQUIRIES

Domestic Information

PUBLIC NOTICE

STEEL PRICES

Steel Market Current Report

EEPC INDIA OFFICE BEARERS

REGIONAL CHAIRMEN / CHAIRPERSON

EEPC INDIA OFFICES

REGIONAL OFFICES

SUB-REGIONAL OFFICE

Tender No.	CSD-902 (PT/CSD/MH/2020/029)
Tender for	LED luminaires
Tender details	Supply of 1,100 LED luminaires.
Bid bond	BD 1,000
Cost of tender documents	BD 50
Closing date	*01.04.2020*
Issued by	Electricity & Water Authority Central Stores Directorate P. O. Box 5325 Sitra, Bahrain Tel. : (973) 17995500 Website : www.tenderboard.gov.bh

Tender No.	RFQ/103041
Tender for	Measurement gauge parts
Tender details	Supply of spare parts for measure gauges.
Bid bond	KD 2,500
Closing date	*04.06.2020*
Issued by	Kuwait National Petroleum Company P. O. Box 70 Ahmadi 13001, Kuwait Tel. : (965) 23887794/23887792/23207793 E-mail : cwphelp@knpc.com.kw Website : http://esourcing.knpc.com

Tender No.	RFX-2052000021
Tender for	Distribution transformers
Tender details	Supply of cast resin distribution transformers.
Bid bond	5 per cent of tender price
Cost of tender documents	AED 3,150
Closing date	*07.04.2020*
Issued by	Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager Zabeel East, P. O. Box 564 Dubai, UAE Tel. : (9714) 3244444 Fax : (9714) 3248111 E-mail : contracts@dewa.gov.ae Website : www.dewa.gov.ae; https://srm.dewa.gov.ae
Source	MEED.com website