Steel makers urge government to tighten curbs on rising imports from China, Korea, and Russia

India’s leading steel producers have called upon the government to take stronger policy measures to address the surge in steel imports from select countries, particularly China, Korea, and Russia. The rising inflow of cheaper foreign steel continues to pressure domestic manufacturers, affecting both production and pricing in the Indian market.

According to the World Steel Association, India produced 122.4 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel between January and September, while China’s output during the same period stood at a massive 746.3 MT — over six times higher. In September alone, India’s production reached 13.6 MT compared to China’s 73.5 MT. This growing disparity, coupled with lower import prices, has resulted in India becoming a net importer of steel for six consecutive months.

Market data indicates that India’s stainless steel segment, with an installed capacity of 7.5 million tonnes, is operating at only about 60% utilisation due to the impact of imports. Despite the Ministry of Steel issuing more than 100 quality control orders (QCOs) to restrict non-BIS-compliant products, imports have continued to rise.

Industry experts suggest extending the validity of these QCOs and imposing further safeguard duties to deter the entry of substandard and underpriced steel products. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) had earlier recommended a 12% provisional safeguard duty on certain steel items for 200 days, but stainless steel producers have sought a broader coverage.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has also expressed concern over the steady rise in steel imports, highlighting the need for policy support to strengthen domestic competitiveness. With India’s steel industry investing heavily in capacity expansion aligned with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, producers believe timely intervention is crucial to ensure sustainable growth and protect local manufacturing from global market volatility.