India became a net importer of finished steel in September 2025, with imports totaling 0.65 million metric tons. This represents a 36.3% decrease year-on-year. Despite this, India's finished steel production for September rose by 14.7% to 13.3 million metric tons, while consumption increased by 9% to 13.5 million metric tons.

Provisional government figures indicated that finished steel exports reached 0.58 million metric tons in September, a 47.6% increase compared to the previous year. India's crude steel output in September reached 13.8 million metric tons, reflecting a 15% increase year-on-year, although production experienced a slight decrease of about 1.7% compared to the previous month. Consumption experienced a marginal dip of 2.2% from August.

In August 2025, India was also a net importer of steel. Finished steel exports rose 54% to 0.53 million tonnes (mt), while imports declined 31% to 0.67 mt, making India a net importer by 0.14 mt for the month.

The period between April and August saw imports drop 33% to 2.5 mt, while exports advanced 16% to 2.2 mt, leaving India a net importer by 0.3 mt. It's worth noting that India had been a net exporter for the two months prior to August.

Sequentially, both imports and exports saw an uptick in August, with imports surging 47% month-on-month and exports rising 9%. Market analysts attributed the pressure on exports to aggressive supplies from China, weak demand in Europe, and surplus availability in West Asia at low prices.

Finished steel production climbed 13% in August to 13.35 mt, while crude steel output was up 11% at 13.8 mt. Private players contributed 85% of the production. Consumption rose nearly 9% year-on-year to 13.69 mt, and was 2.3% higher than July.

Between April and August, crude steel output stood at 68.3 mt (up 12%), finished steel production at 65 mt (up 10%), and consumption at 66 mt (up 8%). Industry sources anticipate consumption to gain momentum after the monsoon season, from late September onwards.

During the first half of fiscal year 2024-25, India was a net importer of steel, with imports provisionally estimated at 4.7 million mt, a 41% increase over the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Exports were recorded at 2.3 million mt, down 36% year on year. In September 2024, finished steel imports totaled around 1 million mt, up 78% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, but almost the same as in August 2024. Exports in September 2024 were recorded at 0.4 million mt, up 16% over August, but eight percent lower than in September 2023.

In the financial year 2023/24, India was a net importer of finished steel. The country imported 8.3 million metric tons of finished steel from April to March, a 38.1% increase compared to the previous year. Indian steel mills have urged the government to take action and implement safeguard measures against the surge in imports. However, the Ministry of Steel at the federal level has resisted these calls, pointing to strong domestic demand.

India has recommended a three-year import tariff of 11% to 12% on some steel products aimed at curbing shipments, mainly from top producer China.