KARACHI — Pakistan’s Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the import values for empty tin cans, a move that comes after an appeal from a private company sparked a wider debate within the packaging industry.
The updated ruling (2022–2025) was announced Thursday, following a review petition filed by M/s Fine Daily (Pvt) Ltd. The company challenged an earlier valuation order (No. 1962–2025), arguing that the set customs values did not reflect the actual market conditions.
Dispute Over Pricing
Fine Daily sought relief under Section 25D of the Customs Act, 1969, pushing for reassessment on the grounds that their own import data indicated higher prices for tin cans. The Directorate reviewed the case under Section 25-A, reopening the valuation process and inviting feedback from all stakeholders.
But while Fine Daily pressed its case, other importers and industry representatives voiced different concerns. They pointed to the pressure of a strong dollar, domestic inflation, and shrinking consumer demand. Many argued that revising valuations upward would squeeze margins further and hurt sales, and instead called for customs to link values more closely to international raw material prices.
Limited Market Share, Broader Industry Impact
During deliberations, officials noted that Fine Daily accounted for only 2.8% of the country’s tin can imports in the review period — a reminder that its data could not represent the entire sector. The Directorate weighed this against wider market surveys, global price trends, and the effect of value-added processing before finalizing the new figures.
Outcome of the Review
The new customs values were set in line with Section 25 of the Act, after factoring in international market intelligence and domestic business realities. While the specific valuation numbers were not disclosed in the announcement, the ruling establishes a revised benchmark that importers will now have to follow.
The decision highlights the ongoing tension between importers seeking cost relief and authorities balancing revenue needs against fair trade practices. With inflation and currency volatility still in play, further disputes over valuation in other sectors are likely.
