India is the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, with an output of 125.32 MT of crude steel and finished steel production of 121.29 MT in FY23.

In FY24 (until July 2023), the production of crude steel and finished steel stood at 45.39 MT and 43.01 MT respectively.

In FY23, crude and finished steel production stood at 125.32 MT and 121.29 MT respectively. In July 2023, crude steel production in India stood at 11.52 MT. In July 2023, finished steel production stood at 10.53 MT.

The consumption of finished steel stood at 105.751 MT in FY22. In FY23, the consumption of finished steel stood at 119.17 MT. In FY24 (until July 2023), the consumption of finished steel stood at 41.15 MT.

The per-capita consumption of steel stood at 86.7 kgs in FY23.

India’s steel production is estimated to grow 4-7% to 123-127 MT in FY24.

Steel companies are looking to restart expansion projects on the back of burgeoning steel processes with a capacity addition of 29 MT.

In FY22, demand for steel is expected to increase by 17% to 110 million tonnes, driven by rising construction activities. Tata Steel is planning to set up more scrap-based facilities that will have a capacity of at least a billion tonnes by 2025. Tata Steel in India is also planning to expand its annual capacity from 34 MTPA to 55 MTPA by 2030.

In FY23, exports and imports of finished steel stood at 6.7 MT and 6.02 MT, respectively. In FY22, exports and imports of finished steel stood at 13.49 MT and 4.67 MT, respectively. In FY22, India's export rose by 25.1% YoY, compared with 2021. India’s per capita consumption of steel grew at a CAGR of 4.43% from 46 kgs in FY08 to 74.10 kgs in FY19. The National Steel Policy aims to increase per capita steel consumption to 160 kgs by 2030-31. In April 2023 exports of steel stood at 8.55 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), while imports stood at 4.60 LMT.

In FY24 (until July 2023), the exports and imports of finished steel stood at 2.56 MT and 1.98 MT, respectively.

Government has taken various steps to boost the sector including the introduction of National Steel Policy 2017 and allowing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the steel sector under the automatic route. According to the data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), between April 2000-March 2023, Indian metallurgical industries attracted FDI inflows of US$ 17.23 billion.

For the first time ever, India surpassed China as the top developer of coal-based steel capacity in July 2023, according to the latest report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM).

The Government’s National Steel Policy 2017 aims to increase the per capita steel consumption to 160 kgs by 2030-31. The Government has also promoted policy which provides a minimum value addition of 15% in notified steel products covered under preferential procurement.

In 2019, the Government introduced Steel Scrap Recycling Policy with an aim to reduce import.

The industry is also benefitting from the developments happening across various industries. The new Vehicle Scrappage policy will help in reducing the steel prices since the policy enables recycling the materials used in old vehicles. In the healthcare front, major steel producers are now exceeding their production capacities to produce oxygen cylinders for COVID patients. In 2021, Indian Railways is planning to procure over 11 lakh tons of steel from Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for the track renewal and laying new lines across the country.

In July 2023, Union Minister Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that Japan is eager to invest ¥ 5 trillion (US$ 36 billion), in various sectors in India, including steel. 

As announced in May 2023, INOX Air Products will invest Rs. 1,300 crore (US$ 157.5 million) to set up two air separation units having a capacity of 1,800 tonnes a day each at Tata Steel's plant in Dhenkanal, Odisha.

In May 2023, the industry body Indian Steel Association (ISA) announced signing an agreement with the ASEAN Iron and Steel Council (AISC) to unlock new avenues of growth and sustainability in the steel sector.

Mr. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, the Union Minister of Steel, and Mr. Nishimura Yasutoshi, the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry of Japan, held a bilateral meeting on July 20, 2023, in New Delhi to discuss collaboration in the steel sector and issues relating to decarbonisation.

AMNS India is planning to spend US$ 7.4 billion on expanding capacity and increasing its value-added investments in both its upstream and downstream capacities and enhancing its iron ore capabilities.

In May 2023, JSW Steel and JFE Steel, signed an agreement to set up a JV company to manufacture the entire range of cold rolled grain-oriented electrical steel (CRGO) products at Vijaynagar in Karnataka.

In April 2023, AMNS India, a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel, received approval from India’s regulatory body (NCLT) to acquire Indian Steel Corporation. 

In October 2022, JSW Steel signed an MoU with Smartex to explore the potential to promote innovation and turnkey approaches from financing to technology availability and market access aimed at decarbonisation of the steel sector in India.

In September 2022, JSW Steel signed an MoU with SMS group to explore multiple cutting-edge solutions and research and development projects to reduce carbon emissions in its iron and steel making operations in India.

In September 2022, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna PSU, supplied 30,000 tonnes of the entire DMR grade specialty steel for the nation’s first indigenously built Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant.

In August 2022, Tata Steel signed an MoU with Punjab Government to set up a steel scrap based electric arc furnace steel plant.

In October 2021, JSW Steel invested Rs. 150 billion (US$ 19.9 million) to build a steel plant in Jammu and Kashmir and boost manufacturing in the region.

In October 2021, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel Corp.’s joint venture steel firm in India, announced a plan to expand its operations in the country by investing ~Rs. 1 trillion (US$ 13.34 billion), over 10 years.

In October 2021, the government announced guidelines for the approved specialty steel production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

In October 2021, India and Russia signed an MoU to carry out R&D in the steel sector and produce coking coal (used in steel making).

Under the Union Budget 2023-24, the government allocated Rs. 70.15 crore (US$ 8.6 million) to the Ministry of Steel. An investment of Rs. 75,000 crore (US$ 9.15 billion) (including Rs. 15,000 crore (US$ 1.83 billion) from private sources) has also been allocated for 100 critical transport infrastructure projects for last and first mile connectivity for various sectors such as ports, coal, and steel.

Note: kg – kilograms