India’s finished steel production rose 3.7 percent to 81.8 million tonnes during the first half of fiscal 2026-27, according to data released by the Ministry of Steel on October 6. Crude steel production reached 85.1 million tonnes, up 2.9 percent from a year earlier.

Finished steel consumption grew 7.9 percent to 84.9 million tonnes between April and September, supported by major government infrastructure projects in highways, railways and ports. Steel exports surged 26.2 percent to 3.55 million tonnes, with export value climbing 28.9 percent to Rs 28,263.7 crore.

India’s total crude steelmaking capacity stands at 222.9 million tonnes per year, keeping the industry on track toward the National Steel Policy target of 300 million tonnes of annual capacity by 2030. Officials said the stronger export realisation points to improved pricing in overseas markets.

Separately, state-owned NMDC reported an 8 percent rise in iron ore production to 4.04 million tonnes in September. Its first-half output rose nearly 23 percent to 27.3 million tonnes. NMDC has also commissioned a 2 million-tonne-per-year pellet plant at Nagarnar in Chhattisgarh.