In May 2026, India’s steel industry maintained its resilience, bolstered by ongoing demand from construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors. The Ministry of Steel reported that crude steel output hit 14.21 million tonnes in the month, marking a 2.9% increase compared to the previous year. Completed steel output grew by 7.7% to reach 13.94 million tonnes, whereas usage climbed by 9% to hit 14.33 million tonnes, indicating robust domestic demand. Hot metal production rose by 2%, while pig iron production grew by 1.1% to 0.77 million tonnes. In the initial two months of FY27, crude steel output reached 28.04 million tonnes, an increase of 2.7% compared to the previous year, while finished steel production and consumption increased by 6.4% and 8.7%, respectively. The performance emphasizes the sector's persistent growth in light of ongoing infrastructure advancement and industrial progress nationwide. In terms of trade, steel imports for May rose by 62.5% year-over-year to 0.69 million tonnes, while exports grew by 29.9% to 0.51 million tonnes, resulting in India being a net steel importer for April-May 2026. The Ministry highlighted that India’s crude steel production capacity hit approximately 220 million tonnes per year in FY26, ensuring the sector remains aligned with the National Steel Policy goal of 300 million tonnes per year by 2030. Capacity expansion initiatives accelerated as SAIL authorized the increase of the Bhilai Steel Plant from 6.8 MTPA to 10.2 MTPA, and JSW Steel began building its 13.2 MTPA integrated steel facility in Odisha. Advancements in the Green Steel Initiative persisted, with 94 manufacturers in 15 states obtaining green steel certification, strengthening the industry’s emphasis on sustainability and future growth. $SAIL $TATASTEEL $MSPL $JINDALSTEL $JSWSTEEL $SHYAMMETL