Domestic appetite led the charge, with finished steel demand touching 164 million tonnes—a solid 7-8 percent uptick. Sectors like infrastructure, construction, railways, and engineering absorbed the surge, propelled by the government’s unrelenting focus on mega-projects and urban development.

Exports stole the spotlight, surging 35.9 percent to exceed 6 million tonnes, while imports nosedived 31.7 percent. This shift flipped India back into net exporter territory, expanding footprints in key regions including the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia through smarter market strategies and superior product competitiveness.

Investments flowed steadily into capacity builds, pushing total output potential to 220 million tonnes, with ambitions set for 300 million by decade’s end. Leading firms—SAIL, Tata Steel, JSW Steel—advanced expansions, modernized tech, and ramped up premium steels, reflecting long-term optimism amid rising consumption trends.

Steel prices, after a three-year slide, showed recovery signs in early FY26. Yet, profitability faces headwinds from erratic raw material costs like coking coal, international volatility, and year-end logistics spikes due to geopolitical unrest. The sector’s resilience positions India for a dominant future in global steel markets.