Ministry of Steel
India's Steel Demand Stays Robust in Apr–Aug 2026
Posted On:
24 SEP 2026 5:32PM by PIB Delhi
1. Steel Production & Prices
1a. Production Overview (in Mt)
|
Production
|
Aug 2026
|
Aug 2025
|
YoY %
|
Apr-Aug
2026
|
Apr-Aug
2025
|
CPLY %
|
|
Crude Steel
|
14.8
|
14.1
|
4.6
|
71.0
|
69.0
|
2.8
|
|
Hot Metal
|
8.4
|
8.1
|
3.5
|
40.4
|
39.2
|
2.9
|
|
Sponge Iron
|
5.1
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
25.4
|
24.9
|
1.9
|
|
Finished Steel
|
13.9
|
13.4
|
3.2
|
68.3
|
65.6
|
4.1
|
1b. Producer wise Production (Apr-Aug 2026) (in Mt)
|
Producer
|
Annual Crude
Steel
Capacity
|
Crude Steel
Production
|
Hot Metal
Production
|
Sponge Iron
Production
|
Finished
Steel
Production
|
|
Top 7
|
117.4
|
39.8
|
37.5
|
6.3
|
36.9
|
|
Remaining producers
|
105.4
|
31.2
|
2.9
|
19.1
|
31.4
|
|
TOTAL
|
222.9
|
71.0
|
40.4
|
25.4
|
68.3
|
|
Public Sector Share (%)
|
13.9
|
15.7
|
29.7
|
0.0
|
13.5
|
|
Top 7 includes SAIL, RINL, NSL, TSL Group, AM/NS, JSL(JSPL), JSW Group
|
Crude Steel Production Distribution for Apr-Aug 2026
1c. Steel Prices (in ₹/tonne)
|
Product
|
Jul-26
|
Aug-26
|
Sep-26
|
MoM %
|
YoY %
|
|
TMT (10 mm)
|
₹ 56,698
|
₹ 58,002
|
₹ 65,298
|
12.6%
|
21.0%
|
|
HR Coil (2 mm)
|
₹ 69,828
|
₹ 70,448
|
₹ 76,085
|
8.0%
|
26.8%
|
|
CR Coil (0.63 mm)
|
₹ 76,582
|
₹ 76,462
|
₹ 84,972
|
11.1%
|
28.8%
|
|
GP Sheet (0.63 mm)
|
₹ 86,415
|
₹ 86,668
|
₹ 94,148
|
8.6%
|
27.7%
|
Note: Prices are inclusive of GST and shown in ₹/tonne, based on average prices from four metro cities—Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.
1d. Alloy Steel — Production, Import, Export & Consumption (in ‘000t)
|
Indicator
|
Aug 2026
|
Aug 2025
|
YoY %
|
Apr-Aug
2026
|
Apr-Aug
2025
|
CPLY %
|
|
Production
|
1092.2
|
742.6
|
47.1
|
4803.5
|
3670.5
|
30.9
|
|
Import
|
94.6
|
103.9
|
-9.0
|
513.8
|
487.1
|
5.5
|
|
Export
|
56.5
|
14.6
|
287.0
|
178.7
|
63.3
|
182.1
|
|
Consumption
|
1081.1
|
822.0
|
31.5
|
5123.7
|
4116.0
|
24.5
|
1e. Stainless Steel — Production, Import, Export & Consumption (in ‘000t)
|
Indicator
|
Aug 2026
|
Aug 2025
|
YoY %
|
Apr-Aug
2026
|
Apr-Aug
2025
|
CPLY %
|
|
Production
|
230.3
|
393.5
|
-41.5
|
1616.5
|
1830.1
|
-11.7
|
|
Import
|
145.9
|
85.2
|
71.3
|
642.9
|
320.3
|
100.7
|
|
Export
|
47.0
|
42.0
|
11.9
|
213.7
|
282.5
|
-24.4
|
|
Consumption
|
388.6
|
431.7
|
-10.0
|
2076.1
|
1848.1
|
12.3
|
|
Indicator
|
Aug 2026
|
Aug 2025
|
YoY %
|
Apr-Aug
2026
|
Apr-Aug
2025
|
CPLY %
|
|
Finished Steel
Consumption
|
14.6
|
13.8
|
5.8
|
70.5
|
65.7
|
7.4
|
3a. Finished Steel — Import & Export
|
Indicator
|
Unit
|
Aug-26
|
Aug-25
|
YoY %
|
Apr-Aug
2026
|
Apr-Aug
2025
|
CPLY %
|
|
Imports
|
‘000 t
|
721.1
|
667.9
|
8.0
|
3487.3
|
2692.8
|
29.5
|
|
Rs Crore
|
7863.1
|
6377.6
|
23.3
|
36193.9
|
26172.6
|
38.3
|
|
Exports
|
‘000 t
|
693.7
|
528.2
|
31.3
|
2986.0
|
2226.2
|
34.1
|
|
Rs Crore
|
5541.2
|
3914.9
|
41.5
|
23646.6
|
17911.1
|
32.0
|
|
Net Trade
Position
|
India was net importer of finished steel in terms of quantity for the period of Apr-Aug 2026
|
3b. Top 5 Countries — Finished Steel Import & Export (Apr-Aug 2026)
|
Rank
|
Import
Country
|
Vol.
(‘000t)
|
Share
%
|
|
Rank
|
Export
Country
|
Vol.
(‘000t)
|
Share
%
|
|
1
|
China
|
1110.4
|
31.8
|
|
1
|
Vietnam
|
416.0
|
13.9
|
|
2
|
Korea
|
1039.3
|
29.8
|
|
2
|
UAE
|
389.2
|
13.0
|
|
3
|
Japan
|
496.6
|
14.2
|
|
3
|
Italy
|
289.0
|
9.7
|
|
4
|
Indonesia
|
226.1
|
6.5
|
|
4
|
Belgium
|
248.7
|
8.3
|
|
5
|
Vietnam
|
157.5
|
4.5
|
|
5
|
Nepal
|
194.7
|
6.5
|
3c. Top Categories — Finished Steel Import & Export (Apr-Aug 2026)
|
Rank
|
Import
Category
|
Vol.
(‘000t)
|
Share
%
|
|
Rank
|
Export
Category
|
Vol.
(‘000t)
|
Share
%
|
|
1
|
HR Coil/Strip
|
1275.6
|
36.6
|
|
1
|
HR Coil/Strip
|
1169.9
|
39.2
|
|
2
|
CR Coil/Sheets
|
624.1
|
17.9
|
|
2
|
Pipes
|
431.5
|
14.4
|
|
3
|
GP/GC Sheets/Coil
|
555.5
|
15.9
|
|
3
|
Bars & Rods
|
384.4
|
12.9
|
|
4
|
Plates
|
290.1
|
8.3
|
|
4
|
GP/GC Sheets/Coil
|
381.5
|
12.8
|
|
5
|
Bars & Rods
|
253.5
|
7.3
|
|
5
|
Plates
|
269.8
|
9.0
|
4a. Domestic Raw Material Prices (₹/tonne)
|
Commodity
|
Aug 2026
|
Sep 2026
|
MoM Change
|
|
NMDC Iron Ore Baila Lump
(65.5%, 10-40 mm)
|
₹ 5,250
|
₹ 5,400
|
2.9%
|
|
NMDC Iron Ore Baila Fines Baila
Fines (64%, 0-10 mm)
|
₹ 4,500
|
₹ 4,500
|
-
|
|
MOIL Manganese Ore Lump (Mn
37%, Fe 7.5%)
|
₹ 17,603
|
₹ 17,603
|
-
|
|
Scrap — HMS II
|
₹ 39,970
|
₹ 43,810
|
9.6%
|
|
Index
|
Jun 2026
|
Jul 2026
|
Aug 2026
|
MoM
Change
|
YoY
Change
|
|
Nifty Metal Index (avg.)
|
12,971.9
|
12,556.4
|
13,181.8
|
5.0%
|
41.7%
|
|
PMI Manufacturing Index
|
54.2
|
53.5
|
52.8
|
-1.3%
|
-11.0%
|
|
Baltic Dry Index (avg.)
|
2,779.9
|
2,769.9
|
2,951.1
|
6.5%
|
47.5%
|
Source: NSE, S&P Global, Trading Economics
6. Policy Initiatives/Industry Initiatives
SAIL recorded strong operational and financial performance in August 2026, with sales rising 13% YoY to 1.87 MT and crude steel production increasing 8% to 1.68 MT. Supplies to Indian Railways reached a record 1.23 lakh tonnes, including 1.12 lakh tonnes of long rails. Cumulative sales during April–August rose 5.6% YoY to 7.71 MT.
SAIL’s IISCO Steel Plant implemented in-house Yard and Roll Management Systems at its Universal Structural Mill, strengthening digitalisation of plant operations. The systems will enhance material traceability, yard and roll management, operational efficiency and transparency, supporting the plant’s digital transformation.
NMDC achieved a major milestone on September 20 with the successful pumping of the first batch of iron ore slurry from Bacheli to Nagarnar through its 135-km slurry pipeline. The project connects the Bailadila–Bacheli Complex with the Nagarnar Pellet Plant, enabling efficient and sustainable iron ore transportation and strengthening the Bastar mineral value chain.
NMDC's Panna Diamond Project produced a 27.29-carat gem-quality diamond, the second-largest ever at the mine, highlighting the company's diversified mining operations alongside its core iron ore business.
7. International Co-operation
The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and the President of the Russian Federation visited the Steel Pavilion set up by the Ministry of Steel at INNOPROM India 2026. Secretary, Ministry of Steel, briefed the leaders on opportunities for India-Russia cooperation across the steel value chain, including raw materials, steel production, specialty steel, advanced technologies, R&D, digitalization, trade, investment and sustainable practices. SAIL, NMDC, MOIL and MECON participated in the pavilion, showcasing India’s capabilities and potential areas of collaboration in the steel sector.
Secretary, Ministry of Steel, met the Ambassador of Norway to India in New Delhi to discuss cooperation in CCUS, green steel, steel trade and R&D, with a focus on low-carbon steel production and technology development.
8. Green Steel Initiatives
Under the Ministry of Steel’s Green Steel Initiative, 99 distinct steel producers have been issued Green Steel Certificates across the lists issued up to September 2026. The certification covers products including TMT bars, HR/CR coils, plates, wire rods, pipes and other steel products, with a large majority of certified products receiving 5-star ratings, reflecting the growing adoption of lower-emission steelmaking practices across India’s steel industry.
SAIL’s Environment Management Division conducted a two-day workshop on CO₂ calculations and the CO₂ Emission Monitoring Dashboard at its Management Training Institute, Ranchi. The workshop focused on strengthening capabilities in carbon-emission measurement, monitoring and data management, supporting SAIL’s decarbonisation efforts and environmental performance.
NMDC Steel Limited, Nagarnar, received the 25th Greentech Environment & Sustainability Award 2026 in the Environment Protection category at the Greentech Summit in Jodhpur. The award recognises NMDC’s efforts in environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, carbon-footprint reduction and adoption of sustainable practices in steel production.
Source: Provisional JPC data for Aug 2026. Mt = Million Tonnes; Mtpa = Million Tonnes Per Annum; MoM = Month-on-Month; YoY = Year-on-Year; CPLY = Corresponding Period Last Year
***
AG
(Release ID: 2314464)
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