India’s crude steel production increased by 5.8pct YoY to 14.09 mln tons in April 2026, supported by strong demand from the infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing sectors, local media reported citing data from the Ministry of Steel.
Finished steel production rose by 3.4pct YoY to 13.05 mln tons, while finished steel consumption increased at a faster pace of 8.1pct to 12.99 mln tons. Hot metal production also increased by 5.4pct, although pig iron output declined by 6pct to 0.69 mln tons during the month.
India remained a marginal net steel importer in April, with imports rising by 30.8pct YoY to 0.68 mln tons, while exports increased by 24.9pct to 0.47 mln tons.
The Ministry stated that India’s steelmaking capacity reached around 220 mln tons per year during FY 2025-26, progressing toward the National Steel Policy target of 300 mln tons by 2030. Major steelmakers including SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW Steel, JSPL, and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India continued expansion projects during the period.
Domestic steel prices also strengthened in April, with rebar prices increasing by around 2.6pct month-on-month, while HRC prices rose by approximately 6.3pct. Galvanized sheet prices also recorded gains of around 7.3pct during the month.