The Ministry of Steel has released production and trade data for the April to July 2026 period, showing steady growth across India’s steel sector. Crude steel production rose 2.4 per cent compared to the same four-month period last year, while finished steel output climbed 4.7 per cent. The data is relevant to steelmakers, construction companies, automobile manufacturers and anyone tracking the health of India’s industrial economy.
Production, Prices and Trade
Crude steel production in the April-July period reached 56.2 million tonnes, up from 54.9 million tonnes a year earlier. Hot metal production came to 31.9 million tonnes and finished steel to 54.7 million tonnes. The top seven producers, including SAIL, RINL and JSW Group, accounted for 31.3 million tonnes of crude steel, while the remaining producers contributed 24.9 million tonnes.
Steel prices in August 2026 showed mixed movement. TMT bars traded at Rs 58,003 per tonne, up 5.8 per cent year-on-year. Hot-rolled coils rose 15.5 per cent to Rs 70,448 per tonne. Cold-rolled coils cost Rs 76,463 per tonne, a 13.3 per cent increase. Galvanised sheets reached Rs 86,668 per tonne, up 17.7 per cent.
India imported 2.766 million tonnes of finished steel from April to July, worth Rs 28,331 crore. China and South Korea were the largest sources, together supplying 61.1 per cent of imports. India exported 2.292 million tonnes valued at Rs 18,105 crore, with Vietnam and the UAE as top destinations. The country remained a net importer by volume.
Alloy steel production surged 26.7 per cent to 3.71 million tonnes in the four-month period. Stainless steel production fell 4.2 per cent to 1.376 million tonnes, though consumption jumped 25 per cent to 1.77 million tonnes.
Policy and Sector Initiatives
The Ministry of Steel launched a monthly webinar series on digitalisation in steel and mining on 21 August, bringing together industry, government enterprises and technology providers. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, notified on 17 August, aims to strengthen raw material security by improving mining investment climate and boosting domestic mineral availability. NMDC’s Bacheli beneficiation plant began trial operations. The ministry also certified 98 steel producers across 15 states under its Green Steel Initiative, with most products receiving the highest 5-star environmental rating.
What this means for you
If you buy or use steel products for construction or manufacturing, prices remain significantly higher than a year ago despite small recent movements. India’s continued reliance on imports means global steel trends will keep affecting domestic prices. The focus on green steel certification suggests environmental standards in steelmaking will tighten over time.