SAIL Posts Strong Growth with Record December Sales, Outlook Remains Positive

India’s largest state-owned steelmaker, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has delivered a strong operational performance in December 2025, reporting provisional sales of 2.1 million tonnes. This marks the company’s best-ever December sales and represents a sharp 37 percent increase over the 1.5 million tonnes sold in December 2024, highlighting sustained demand across key consuming sectors.

The robust December performance helped SAIL maintain steady momentum during the current financial year. Cumulative sales for the April to December 2025 period stood at 14.7 million tonnes, up 17 percent from 12.6 million tonnes recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. The company attributed the growth to consistent domestic demand, improved market reach, and a notable rise in export volumes, underlining its expanding global footprint.

Beyond domestic markets, exports have emerged as a meaningful contributor to volumes, reflecting SAIL’s renewed focus on international opportunities amid shifting global trade dynamics. The performance also came at a time when the Indian steel sector continues to navigate challenges from volatile global prices and excess supply from key exporting nations.

Investor sentiment mirrored the positive operational update, with SAIL shares gaining over two percent to trade around Rs 150.85 during Monday’s session. Market participants viewed the sales momentum as a signal of improving fundamentals, supported by policy measures aimed at protecting domestic producers.

During a recent earnings call, Ashok Panda, Director Finance at SAIL, noted that steel consumption in India grew by more than eight percent during the first half of FY2025–26, driven by infrastructure spending, construction activity, and growth in automotive and capital goods sectors. However, he cautioned that production growth, which rose over 12 percent in the same period, has kept competitive pressures elevated.

Adding support to the domestic industry, the Indian government recently imposed a 12 percent safeguard duty on steel imports, covering shipments from China, Vietnam, and Nepal. The move is expected to curb low-priced imports and provide pricing stability for domestic producers in the near term.

With infrastructure investment remaining a key policy focus and demand outlook stable, SAIL appears well positioned to sustain volumes through the remainder of the fiscal year, while balancing margins amid evolving global market conditions.