Overview
The Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) requires importers to register steel consignments online before they arrive in India. It gives the Government and industry advance information on steel imports: what is coming, from where, in what grade and at what value. SIMS was launched in 2019 under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is now run by the Ministry of Steel on its portal at https://sims.steel.gov.in, revamped in 2025 as SIMS 2.0.
SIMS registration is a policy condition of import under the Foreign Trade Policy. The importer files the registration, receives an automatic registration number and quotes it in the Bill of Entry. It is separate from, and in addition to, the Steel Quality Control Orders, which require BIS-licensed sources for covered products.
Note: The advance registration window was changed in 2025 and special windows apply for some neighbouring countries. Check the latest notices on the SIMS portal before each shipment.
Who needs it
- Importers of steel under the notified HS codes, whether traders, actual users or manufacturers.
- Exporters’ Indian buyers, who file the registration on behalf of the consignment.
- Importers using exemptions, who need the exemption details in hand when registering.
Products covered
SIMS covers steel products under the notified tariff lines. The Ministry of Steel’s notices make registration compulsory for imports under all HS codes in:
| Chapter | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Chapter 72 | Iron and steel: flat-rolled products, bars, rods, wire, stainless and alloy steel |
| Chapter 73 | Articles of iron or steel: pipes, tubes, structures, fasteners and others |
| Chapter 86 | Railway and tramway equipment and parts, as notified |
Exemptions and special arrangements are notified from time to time on the SIMS portal.
Documents required
- Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) and GST registration
- Commercial invoice or proforma invoice
- Purchase order or contract
- Mill test certificate showing the grade and specification
- Bill of lading or expected shipment and port details
- HS code, product description, Indian Standard and QCO declaration
- BIS licence details of the manufacturer, or exemption reference, where the product is QCO-covered
Process
- Classify the goods. Confirm the HS code, grade and the Indian Standard that applies.
- Check the QCO. Verify that the manufacturer holds a BIS licence for the grade, or that an exemption covers it.
- Register on the SIMS portal with the importer’s details.
- File the consignment registration within the advance window, entering product, quantity, value, origin, port and expected arrival.
- Pay the registration fee online as prescribed.
- Receive the automatic registration number, valid for 75 days.
- Quote the number in the Bill of Entry for customs clearance.
Common mistakes we see
- Filing too late, after the advance window has closed, or too early, so the number lapses before arrival.
- Using an HS code that does not match the grade on the mill test certificate.
- Declaring a QCO-covered grade from a mill whose BIS licence does not cover that grade or size.
- Splitting or combining shipments without updating the registrations.
Validity, renewal & surveillance
Each SIMS registration number is valid for 75 days. Consignments arriving after expiry need a fresh registration. Data entered in SIMS is cross-checked with customs records, and the Ministry of Steel uses it to monitor imports and take trade measures. Inaccurate declarations can be flagged at customs.
Note: The SIMS registration fee was originally set by notification as a small percentage of the CIF value, with a minimum and a maximum. Fees and portal rules have since been revised; we’ll confirm the current figure for your consignment.
How Aaditech helps
Our team includes former Directors of the Bureau of Indian Standards, and we have supported steel importers with SIMS and the Steel QCOs. The most common SIMS problem is not the form but the classification behind it, which is what we check most carefully.
- Classification check: HS code, grade, Indian Standard and QCO applicability for each line item.
- QCO and exemption check: BIS licence verification of the mill, or the applicable exemption.
- Timely filing on the SIMS portal within the advance window.
- Corrections and re-registrations when shipments slip or details change.
- Customs support to keep consignments moving and avoid demurrage.
- Joined-up steel compliance: exemptions from the Ministry of Steel and FMCS licences for overseas mills.
Send us your next shipment details and we’ll check them before you file.
