What it is
Iron from a blast furnace cast into small blocks. Foundry grade is melted to make castings; basic grade goes into steelmaking.
Foundry gradeBasic grade (steelmaking)SG / nodular grade (low P, low S)
Where India produces it
- West Bengal
Pig iron 1,747 thousand tonnes in 2023-24 (highest).
- Odisha
1,525 thousand tonnes in 2023-24.
- Karnataka
990 thousand tonnes in 2023-24.
- Goa
831 thousand tonnes in 2023-24.
- Jharkhand
775 thousand tonnes in 2023-24.
- Chhattisgarh
677 thousand tonnes in 2023-24.
Where imports come from
Low; India exported 429,042 t of pig and cast iron in 2023-24.
Rules before you buy or sell
- Imports of pig iron, sponge iron, ferro alloys, remelting scrap and semi-finished and flat or long steel are 'free' under ITC(HS) 2022 (as summarised in IMYB 2024), but QCO-covered grades still need the BIS mark.
- Check the current import and export policy for your exact 8-digit HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) schedules.
Storage and handling
Can be stored in the open, but keep grades in separate heaps with labels.
Businesses that use it
High Duty Iron Castings (Foundry) →Malleable Iron Castings (Pipe Fittings and Auto Parts) →Cast Iron Brake Drums (Small Foundry) →Steel Castings (Induction Furnace Foundry) →