India’s steel sector maintained strong growth momentum in April, with crude steel production rising 5.8% year-on-year to 14.09 million tonnes (MT), supported by robust domestic demand across infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.
Finished steel production reached 13.05 MT during the month, registering a 3.4% increase, while consumption grew at a faster pace of 8.1% to 12.99 MT, indicating sustained strength in end-use industries.
The rise in demand was largely driven by continued activity in construction, infrastructure development, and industrial manufacturing, positioning India as a key growth market amid a mixed global outlook.
On the production side, hot metal output increased by 5.4%, although pig iron production declined by 6% to 0.69 MT.
Trade activity also picked up during the month, with steel imports rising 30.8% to 0.68 MT and exports increasing 24.9% to 0.47 MT, leaving India a marginal net importer.
Domestic steel prices showed a recovery trend across segments, with gains in both long and flat products reflecting improved market conditions. However, rising input costs, particularly iron ore and coking coal, continue to pose challenges for producers.
With capacity expansion ongoing and infrastructure spending remaining strong, the sector outlook remains positive, though it will be influenced by raw material volatility and global trade dynamics in the months ahead.
