Concrete

India Drives Global Steel Demand

13.5% jump in steel consumption

Published

2 days ago

December 2, 2024

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India remains the only major economy witnessing robust double-digit growth in steel consumption, registering a 13.5% increase in the first half of FY 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Steel. This strong demand aligns with India’s infrastructural ambitions but raises challenges regarding domestic production and imports.

Key Insights on Steel Demand and Production
Projected Demand by 2030:

India will require 300 million tonnes of steel production capacity to meet an estimated 265 million tonnes of demand.
Current capacity stands at 180 million tonnes, necessitating an additional 120 million tonnes of capacity.
Investment needed: $120 billion (?10 lakh crore).
National Steel Policy Goal:

Achieve 300 million tonnes capacity by 2030 to avoid dependency on imports.
Challenges: Imports and Price Depression
Surging Imports:

41.3% increase in steel imports in H1 2024-25 (4.73 million tonnes vs. 3.32 million tonnes in H1 2023-24).
Cheaper imported steel threatens domestic price stability, impacting both large and small producers.
Domestic Production:

Of the 144.3 million tonnes of steel produced in FY 2023-24:
59.16% by integrated producers.
40.84% by over 1,002 small producers across clusters, highlighting their vulnerability to low-price imports.
Quality Assurance and Policy Measures
To ensure high standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Steel, has:

Notified 51 BIS Standards covering 1,376 grades of steel.
Introduced Quality Control Orders to ensure that domestically produced or imported steel adheres to these standards, preventing low-quality imports.
Outlook and Strategic Importance
India’s steel demand growth underscores its rapid development trajectory, driven by urbanization and infrastructure projects. However, for sustained growth:

Domestic capacity expansion must be prioritized.
Protective policies against price dumping are essential to safeguard small and large producers.
Continued quality assurance ensures global competitiveness.
India’s trajectory positions it as a critical player in global steel markets, balancing production, consumption, and import regulation.

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Steelmakers’ Debt Rises 25% Amid Capex Drive

The debt levels of steelmakers will rise by more than Rs 40,000 crore this fiscal year

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2024

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Domestic steelmakers are expected to see a significant rise in their net leverage to over 3x this fiscal year, driven by a 25% increase in debt due to ongoing capital expenditure (capex) projects. According to a report by Crisil Ratings, the debt levels of major steelmakers will rise by more than Rs 40,000 crore this fiscal year, marking a return to levels seen in fiscal 2020. This increase in debt is largely due to the ongoing capex cycle, with Rs 70,000 crore planned for the current and next fiscal years, aimed at expanding steelmaking capacity by 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by fiscal 2027.

While the rise in debt may strain financial metrics, steelmakers are expected to improve efficiency and increase capacity, boosting long-term growth. However, profitability has come under pressure due to falling steel prices and rising imports. Steel prices are expected to fall by 10% this fiscal year, driven by increasing imports, especially from China. Despite an increase in demand and volume, lower realizations are expected to reduce operating profit margins.

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NCB Signs MoUs for Decarbonisation in Cement Industry

One MoU was signed between NCB and GCCA India

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2024

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The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has signed two landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to advance decarbonisation and technological innovation in the Indian cement industry. The MoUs were signed during the 18th NCB International Conference and Exhibition on Cement and Concrete, held at Yashobhoomi, IICC Dwarka.

One MoU was signed between NCB and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) India to promote research on decarbonization efforts within India’s cement sector, aiming for a “Net Zero” industry by 2070.

The second MoU, signed with AIC-Plasmatech Innovation Foundation, focuses on exploring the application of Thermal Plasma Torch Technology in cement production, which could enhance the sustainability and efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Concrete

MPCB Bans New Ready-Mix Concrete Plants in MMR

Existing plants are required to implement anti-dust measures

Published

1 day ago

December 3, 2024

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In response to worsening air quality, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has announced a ban on the establishment of new ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants within the municipal corporation limits of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Existing plants are required to implement anti-dust measures and conduct water sprinkling on vehicle tyres over the next three months.

Failure to comply with these new regulations could result in the seizure of bank guarantee deposits and potential plant closures, MPCB officials warned.

MPCB’s directives also stipulate that new captive RMC plants outside municipal areas must allocate at least 10% of their land for plant construction and enclose the site with tin or similar materials. Non-compliance will be met with a bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh.

New commercial RMC plants must maintain a 500-meter buffer zone from populated areas and ensure compliance with environmental standards. All plants must also monitor air quality at their boundaries.

MPCB has stressed the importance of collaborating with civic authorities in MMR to curb pollution and maintain air quality standards.