New Delhi: India’s steel industry continued its growth momentum in April, with crude steel production rising 5.8 per cent year-on-year to 14.09 million tonnes, up from 13.31 million tonnes in the same month last year, according to a government statement. The sector’s performance was supported by sustained demand from infrastructure and manufacturing activities.
Domestic steel prices also showed recovery across major product categories, backed by strong consumption trends. Hot metal production increased by 5.4 per cent year-on-year, while pig iron output declined by 6 per cent to 0.69 million tonnes. Finished steel production reached 13.05 million tonnes, registering a 3.4 per cent growth, while consumption stood at 12.99 million tonnes, marking a robust 8.1 per cent increase.
On the trade front, India emerged as a marginal net importer during April, with imports at 0.68 million tonnes and exports at 0.47 million tonnes. Compared to April last year, imports rose by 30.8 per cent and exports by 24.9 per cent.
India’s total steel production capacity has reached around 220 million tonnes per annum in FY 2025–26, progressing towards the target of 300 MTPA under the National Steel Policy by 2030. Major industry players such as Steel Authority of India Limited, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India continued to invest in capacity expansion.
Notably, Tata Steel recently commissioned a Rs 3,200 crore scrap-based electric arc furnace (EAF) green steel plant in Ludhiana, Punjab, with a capacity of 0.75 MTPA — the first such facility in the state.
Steel prices witnessed an upward trend during the month. TMT/Rebar prices rose about 2.6 per cent month-on-month and 3 per cent year-on-year, marking their first positive annual growth after a period of softness. Flat steel products recorded sharper gains, with hot-rolled (HR) coils up by 6.3 per cent and GP sheets by 7.3 per cent month-on-month.
Under the Ministry of Steel’s Green Steel initiative, National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology continued as the nodal agency for certification. As of March 31, 2026, it had issued green steel certificates to 90 producers across 15 states, with many products achieving the highest 5-star rating.
Raw material prices showed mixed but firm trends. Domestic iron ore prices rose significantly, with NMDC Limited increasing lump and fines prices by 10–11 per cent month-on-month. Meanwhile, global iron ore prices remained stable, and coking coal costs continued to rise, maintaining pressure on production costs. Scrap prices in the international market remained largely stable, benefiting electric route steelmakers.
The government stated that the Indian steel sector remains well-positioned for continued growth, supported by infrastructure expansion and manufacturing demand. However, managing energy security, raw material cost fluctuations, and global trade dynamics will remain key challenges in the coming year.
With inputs from IANS