Concrete

EU Carbon Tax Set To Hit India’s Steel Exports

Mills Shift Focus To Middle East And Africa As EU Costs Rise

Published

11 months ago

December 9, 2025

admin

India’s steel exports to Europe are expected to decline once the European Union’s carbon tax comes into force next month, prompting domestic producers to look for alternative buyers in Africa and the Middle East, according to industry executives and analysts. From 1 January, steel imported into the European Economic Area will be subject to a levy under the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which also covers cement, electricity, fertilisers and other emissions-intensive products.

India, the world’s second-largest crude steel producer after China, currently directs around two-thirds of its steel exports to Europe. Experts say the new regime will force Indian mills to accelerate emissions reduction. Former steel secretary Aruna Sharma said companies recognise the need for environmentally responsible production but are simultaneously scouting for new export markets.

Most Indian steel is produced using blast furnaces, which generate significantly higher emissions than electric arc furnaces. The Ministry of Steel’s top civil servant, Sandeep Poundrik, noted earlier that further blast furnace expansion is a concern. Global Energy Monitor estimates that upcoming capacity additions could increase sectoral emissions by roughly 680 million metric tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent.

Steady domestic demand—backed by infrastructure spending—has spurred Indian steelmakers to expand capacity. However, the new EU levy is expected to weigh on export volumes in the near term. “Most companies are still figuring out how to deal with CBAM,” said Ravi Sodah, analyst at Elara Capital. “It is expected to slow down India’s exports to the EU.”

Two senior executives at major steel firms said they had little clarity on how the tax would be calculated. One noted that with about 60 per cent of their exports heading to Europe, clarity on whether the tax would be uniform or company-specific was crucial.

According to CreditSights’ Lakshmanan R, the levy will increase the cost of Indian steel exports to Europe—particularly those produced via blast furnaces—compressing margins and eroding market share unless emissions fall. In response, producers are seeking to diversify their customer base, with mills targeting the Middle East through quick delivery commitments and flexible payment terms, said CRU Group principal analyst Shankhadeep Mukherjee.

Related Topics:blast furnaces CBAM emissions EU carbon tax Indian steel exports infrastructure demand Middle East markets steel sector

Up Next

ESL Steel Switches To PNG In Pact With IOCL

Don't Miss

JFE To Invest Rs 157.5bn In JV With JSW Steel

Concrete

India’s Cement Sector Cuts Energy Use, but Worker Safety Worsens

iFOREST finds efficiency gains alongside water and safety concerns

Published

21 hours ago

November 2, 2026

admin

India’s cement sector has improved its energy and carbon efficiency, but rising groundwater use in water-stressed regions and deteriorating worker safety remain significant concerns, according to a report by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST). The findings also highlighted weak policy implementation and gaps in sustainability reporting.

India, the world’s second-largest cement producer, uses about 2.54 gigajoules of energy per tonne (GJ/t), below the global average of 2.88 GJ/t. However, renewable sources accounted for only 5.1 per cent of the sector’s energy mix, indicating continued dependence on conventional sources.

The report assessed 18 cement companies against 107 Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting indicators for FY24 and FY25. The companies covered 87 per cent of India’s cement production. Carbon emissions intensity declined from 0.58 to 0.57 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne, but total emissions increased 4 per cent to 224.3 mn t, equivalent to about 6 to 7 per cent of India’s overall emissions.

Overall water withdrawal declined 9.5 per cent during the study period, while withdrawals in water-stressed areas, mainly in Rajasthan, increased by more than 20 per cent. Groundwater’s share of withdrawals in these areas rose from 27 per cent to 38 per cent, raising concerns about the sector’s impact on vulnerable water resources.

The sector employs about 228,000 people, including 63 per cent contractual workers, 3.1 per cent women and 0.07 per cent persons with disabilities. Women in key managerial roles earned 26.8 per cent less than men, while median pay for women workers fell 11.1 per cent in FY25 as men’s pay increased. Worker injuries rose 36.5 per cent to 359, and fatalities increased from 17 to 22, with workers accounting for more than 90 per cent of deaths.

iFOREST recommended cement-specific reporting guidance, standardised metrics, mandatory production disclosure and third-party verification. It also called for environmental, social and governance policies to be integrated into business strategies and implemented more effectively on the ground.

Concrete

Ambuja Cements Expects Volume Growth to Outpace Industry in H2

Ambuja Cements sees stronger trade and institutional demand in H2 FY27.

Published

21 hours ago

November 2, 2026

admin

Ambuja Cements expects its sales volumes to grow faster than the cement industry during the second half of fiscal year 2027, as it seeks a recovery in institutional demand after a weak first half. The Gautam Adani-owned company is aiming to rebuild volumes while protecting profitability.

The company reported a 90 per cent year-on-year decline in consolidated net profit attributable to owners of the parent to Rs. 1.93 bn for the quarter ended 30 September, from Rs. 17.74 bn a year earlier. The previous year’s profit included a reversal of income-tax provisions worth Rs. 16.97 bn. Revenue from operations rose marginally to Rs. 91.66 bn from Rs. 91.3 bn.

Trade volumes increased 8.6 per cent year-on-year in the September quarter, but weaker institutional sales left overall volumes broadly unchanged. Ambuja Cements expects both trade and institutional sales to turn positive in the third and fourth quarters. Trade sales are made through dealers and distributors, while institutional or business-to-business sales involve bulk supplies to infrastructure developers, government projects and real estate companies.

The company had earlier reduced institutional sales that did not generate adequate returns. It now plans to rebuild the business selectively, while continuing to prioritise trade sales and higher-value products. Trade accounted for 74 per cent of sales in the quarter, up six percentage points from a year earlier, while premium products increased to 37 per cent of trade sales from 35 per cent. Blended cement’s share rose to 82 per cent from 77 per cent.

Ambuja Cements commissioned 4.6 mn t of capacity during the quarter. Another 3.2 mn t at Bathinda in Punjab and Jodhpur has stabilised, with the facilities expected to ramp up in the second half. A further 2.4 mn t facility at Varkala in Bihar is scheduled for commissioning during the period. Higher fuel and logistics costs remain a challenge, while the company has realised a cement price increase of about Rs. 10 per bag in October and is targeting operating costs of Rs. 4,250 per t for the full year.

Concrete

JK Lakshmi Cement Begins Rs 110 Billion Assam Plant Project

The 2.5 MTPA integrated cement plant is expected to be completed by FY2029.

Published

3 days ago

October 31, 2026

admin

JK Lakshmi Cement has recently laid the foundation stone for Project Kamakshi, its first integrated cement manufacturing facility in Assam, marking its entry into Northeast India. The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Umrangso village in Dima Hasao district in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The project involves an investment of Rs 110 billion, including the mining lease, and will have an annual cement production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes, supported by a 1 million tonne clinkerisation unit. Scheduled for completion by FY2029, the facility is expected to generate employment for over 2,000 people while catering primarily to the growing Northeast market.

The integrated plant will feature dedicated railway sidings to facilitate efficient transportation of raw materials and finished cement, strengthening supply chain reliability and regional distribution.

Vinita Singhania, Chairperson and Managing Director, JK Lakshmi Cement, said, “”Project Kamakshi is the start of a long-term relationship with Assam and the wider North East. This is a region that is building fast, and it deserves quality cement made close to home. With this plant, we want to bring scale, jobs, and dependable supply to the region. At JK Lakshmi Cement, we believe that building a stronger India goes beyond infrastructure. It is also about growing together with the communities we serve.””

The investment aligns with the company’s strategy to expand into high-growth markets beyond its established presence in Northern, Western and Eastern India. The project is also expected to support regional economic development and infrastructure growth.

JK Lakshmi Cement aims to pursue its expansion plans while working towards its long-term target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.