Grinding balls and similar articles for mills

Cast iron or steel grinding balls and mill articles

SIMS CLEARANCE

HSN 7325 91 00 (Grinding balls and similar articles for mills) is subject to compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20. The importer must obtain an automatic SIMS registration number by submitting advance information online and paying a registration fee of ₹500 before the consignment arrives.

What this is

HSN code

7325 91 00

Chapter

73 · Articles of iron or steel

Primary regulator

SIMS · ITC (HS) policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73 (DGFT Notification 33/2015-20)

Customs documentation

SIMS registration number from DGFT
Online advance registration from SIMS portal
ITC (HS) policy compliance from DGFT

Applicable Partner Government Agencies

SIMSSIMS·Steel Import Monitoring System

Procedural directions for customs clearance are issued by: Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Compliance steps

1
Register on the SIMS online portal not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival and obtain the automatic registration number by paying the ₹500 registration fee. The registration number remains valid for 75 days from the date of issue.
DGFT Notification 28/2023-24 dated 28-08-2023 · DGFT Notification 33/2015-20 dated 28-09-2020 · Policy condition no. 2, Chapter 73
2
Confirm at the bill-of-entry stage that the SIMS registration number is current and covers the quantity and CTI being imported. The prior requirement of a minimum 15-day advance registration window has been abolished, but the registration must be active on the date of arrival.
DGFT Notification 19/2015-20 dated 07-07-2022 · DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022

A word of counsel

The most common error on this tariff line is assuming that SEZ-linked movements or re-imports for packaging are automatically SIMS-compliant without checking the applicable carve-out conditions. Re-import of steel items solely for packaging — not for value addition — falls outside SIMS, as does DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA movement in both the with-value-addition and without-value-addition scenarios; however, these exemptions must be documented at the time of filing. An absent or expired SIMS registration on a standard commercial import subjects the consignment to detention pending regularisation.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 7325 91 00 require BIS certification?

No; no BIS Quality Control Order covers cast grinding balls or similar mill articles under this tariff line. Import is governed by the Steel Import Monitoring System administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under policy condition no. 2 of Chapter 73 and DGFT Notification 33/2015-20.

How long is the SIMS registration number valid, and how early can the application be submitted?

The automatic registration number is valid for 75 days from issuance; the application may be submitted not earlier than 60 days before the expected date of arrival of the consignment, per DGFT Notification 28/2023-24.

Are re-imports of steel grinding balls for packaging purposes exempt from SIMS registration?

Yes. DGFT Policy Circular 38/2015-20 dated 19-01-2022 clarifies that re-imports of steel items solely for packaging — not for value addition — are outside the SIMS scope, as are DTA-to-SEZ-to-DTA movements regardless of whether value addition occurs.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: SIMS / DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.