India’s Crude Steel Output Rises 5.8% in April 2026 on Strong Domestic Demand

India’s steel industry started FY27 on a positive note, with crude steel production registering healthy growth in April 2026 amid continued momentum in infrastructure development and manufacturing activity across the country.

According to data released by the Ministry of Steel, India’s crude steel production rose 5.8 percent year on year to 14.09 million tonnes during April 2026. The growth highlights the steady demand environment supported by government infrastructure spending, construction activity, automotive production, and industrial expansion.

Finished steel production during the month stood at 13.05 million tonnes, reflecting a 3.4 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Steel consumption also remained strong, rising 8.1 percent to 12.99 million tonnes, indicating sustained demand from end-user industries.

The report also showed that hot metal production increased 5.4 percent year on year. However, pig iron output declined by 6 percent to 0.69 million tonnes during the month.

India continued to remain a marginal net importer of steel in April. Steel imports reached 0.68 million tonnes, while exports stood at 0.47 million tonnes. Both imports and exports recorded significant annual growth, reflecting active trade movement and improving global demand conditions.

Domestic steel prices witnessed an upward trend across multiple categories. Long steel products such as TMT bars and rebars registered moderate gains, while flat steel products including hot rolled coils and galvanised sheets saw stronger price growth during the month.

India’s total steelmaking capacity has now reached nearly 220 million tonnes per annum in FY26. Major steel producers including Steel Authority of India Limited, Tata Steel and JSW Steel are continuing to invest aggressively in capacity expansion projects to support future demand growth.

The Ministry of Steel also highlighted progress under the green steel initiative, with 90 producers across 15 states receiving certification for low emission steel products. Industry experts believe the sector outlook remains positive despite rising raw material costs, supported by robust infrastructure investments and industrial growth across India.