India remained a net steel importer in April-May, with imports totaling 1.37 million mt during the two-month period, while exports stood at 980,000 mt.

Imports were up 45% from 940,000 mt a year earlier, while exports rose 27.4% from 770,000 mt, the ministry said.

In May, imports rose 62.5% year over year to 690,000 mt, compared with 420,000 mt in May 2025, while exports increased 29.9% to 510,000 mt from 390,000 mt a year ago.

India’s crude steelmaking capacity reached about 220 million mt/year in fiscal 2025-26, keeping the sector on track toward the National Steel Policy target of 300 million mt/y by 2030, the ministry said.

Steel Authority of India Ltd. has approved the expansion of its Bhilai Steel Plant to 10.2 million mt/y of crude steel capacity from 6.8 million mt/y, the ministry said.

JSW Steel also began construction in May of its integrated steel plant at Paradip, Odisha, a phased project planned to have a capacity of 13.2 million mt/y.