AMAI has also asked for increasing value addition within the country and impose export duty on salt, the key raw material for alkali industry. Kochi: The Alkali Manufacturers Association of India (AMAI) has asked for increasing import duty of caustic soda and soda ash to 12.5% from 7.5% to safeguard domestic investments amid cheaper imports of these products flooding the market while domestic manufacturers face low capacity utilisation. In its pre-budget submission, AMAI said the demand for caustic soda has been growing at 5% CAGR during the last four years and by 7% for soda ash. Domestic industry has invested heavily in setting up new capacities and technologies. However cheaper imports are meeting the demand growth leading to lower domestic utilization and loss of employment. “The value of imported caustic soda and soda ash is in the range of Rs 3,000 crore per annum and the demand can be easily met through domestic production for which adequate capacities are available”, said Jaya...