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Steel Industry Seeks Stronger Action to Curb Rising Imports

Producers urge policy steps as imports surge, hurting domestic utilisation

Published

2 months ago

November 4, 2025

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India’s steel producers have called for stronger government intervention to curb rising steel imports, particularly from China, which produced 746.3 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel between January and September 2025 — over six times India’s output.

According to the World Steel Association, India produced 122.4 MT during the same period. In September alone, China’s production of 73.5 MT was more than fivefold India’s 13.6 MT.

The stainless steel sector continues to face pressure from imports, operating at just 60 per cent of its 7.5 MT installed capacity. Industry representatives warned that unless measures are strengthened, domestic utilisation and investment plans could suffer.

Over the past few years, the Ministry of Steel has introduced over 100 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to prevent non-BIS-compliant steel products from entering the Indian market. The June 2025 QCO even imposed restrictions on importing certain steel inputs.

“The validity of QCOs can be extended to prevent sub-standard and cheap material from entering the country,” said an industry executive, calling for further protective measures aligned with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

In March 2025, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recommended a 12 per cent provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on select steel products to counter a surge in imports. However, the stainless steel industry later sought a broader probe, as its concerns were not fully covered by the duty.

A high-level committee of NITI Aayog is expected to meet steel industry leaders next week to discuss the issue, sources indicated.

Data from BigMint show that domestic steel prices fell to a five-year low in October due to higher import inflows. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also flagged the rise in imports — largely driven by lower prices — and called for policy support to strengthen domestic competitiveness.

India imported 0.79 MT of finished steel in September 2025, up from 0.69 MT in August, marking the sixth consecutive month as a net steel importer. Imports from Korea, Russia, and Indonesia rose, while those from China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan declined year-on-year.

During the first half of FY26, inbound shipments exceeded exports by 0.47 MT despite a 40 per cent rise in export volumes to 4.43 MT, underscoring the growing import imbalance faced by the domestic steel industry.

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SAIL Posts Highest-Ever December Sales, FY26 Growth Strong

December volumes jump 37 per cent, momentum continues through April–December.

Published

1 week ago

January 6, 2026

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Steel Authority of India (SAIL), a Maharatna central public sector enterprise and one of India’s largest steel producers, has recorded its highest-ever sales for the month of December, reflecting strong demand and improved operational performance.

According to provisional data, SAIL clocked sales of 2.1 million tonnes (MT) in December 2025, registering a robust growth of around 37 per cent compared with 1.5 MT sold in December 2024. This marks the company’s best performance for the month of December to date, with strong growth reported across product categories and sales channels, alongside a significant reduction in inventory levels.

The strong monthly performance was driven by a sharp focus on timely customer deliveries and enhanced market engagement. SAIL has also stepped up its branding and outreach initiatives in recent months, contributing to improved visibility and stronger customer connect in both retail and institutional segments.

The December showing helped SAIL sustain its growth momentum during the current financial year. Cumulative sales for the April–December 2025 period stood at 14.7 MT (provisional), reflecting a growth of about 17 per cent compared with 12.6 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year.

In addition to solid performance in the domestic market, SAIL’s export volumes have also witnessed a significant increase, highlighting the company’s expanding global footprint and competitiveness in international markets. The improved export performance comes amid volatile global steel market conditions, underscoring SAIL’s ability to adapt and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

The sustained improvement in sales volumes reflects SAIL’s strengthened market presence, customer-centric approach and operational efficiencies. The record-breaking achievements across domestic and overseas markets reinforce the company’s position among India’s leading steel producers and are expected to further enhance its standing among major global steel players in the coming years.

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Ministry of Steel Invites Media Partners for Bharat Steel 2026

Global steel conference to be held in New Delhi in April 2026.

Published

1 week ago

January 6, 2026

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The Ministry of Steel, Government of India, has invited media organisations to partner with Bharat Steel 2026, an international conference-cum-exhibition scheduled to be held on April 16–17, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Envisioned as a premier global platform, the event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, technology providers and international stakeholders to discuss the future of the steel sector in India and worldwide.

Bharat Steel 2026 aims to showcase India’s steel vision, policy roadmap and investment opportunities, while fostering structured engagement between the Government of India and the global steel ecosystem. The conference is expected to see high-level participation from senior government leadership, key central ministries, state governments, chief executives of leading Indian and international steel and mining companies, global technology players, financial institutions, trade bodies and international delegations.

The two-day event is likely to feature key policy deliberations, industry announcements, business collaborations and knowledge-sharing sessions, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and long-term growth of the steel industry. Given its scale and international participation, Bharat Steel 2026 is expected to attract significant national and global attention.

In this context, the Ministry of Steel proposes to collaborate with leading media organisations to ensure wide-ranging and impactful coverage of the conference. Media partners are being invited across categories, including digital media, print media (magazines and newspapers), and electronic and television platforms.

The tentative scope of collaboration includes digital promotions through dedicated web banners and social media posts, publication of advertisements and editorial content in print, and broadcast of promotional material, interviews, panel discussions and event highlights on electronic and television channels. Coverage is envisaged across pre-event, event and post-event phases to ensure sustained visibility.

Partnering media organisations will gain enhanced visibility, access to senior government and industry leaders, exclusive content opportunities, press briefings and on-ground coverage during the event, enabling close engagement with one of the most significant government-led platforms in the steel sector.

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India Imposes Three-Year Tariff on Select Steel Imports

New duties aim to curb surge of low-priced steel from China

Published

2 weeks ago

December 31, 2025

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India has recently imposed import tariffs for a three-year period on select steel products, targeting a sharp rise in low-priced shipments from China that regulators say are hurting domestic producers.

The tariff has been set at 12 per cent in the first year, easing to 11.5 per cent in the second year and further tapering to 11 per cent in the third year. The measure follows concerns flagged by trade authorities over increasing imports at prices below prevailing domestic levels.

As the world’s second-largest crude steel producer, India has been grappling with sustained inflows of cheaper steel, particularly from China, raising anti-dumping concerns and putting pressure on local steelmakers’ margins and capacity utilisation.

The move is expected to provide near-term relief to domestic producers while allowing a gradual adjustment as duties are phased down over the three-year period.