TV Narendran, MD and CEO, Tata Steel | Photo credit: Kamal Narag
Steel imports, at present, “are not a problem as big as they were about three or four months”, and if the positive aspects support, steel manufacturers can resume work in their investment plans, TV Narendran, MD and CEO, Tata Steel, said Business line. However, the sector is not yet outside the forest, since apprehensions continue on the discharge of alloy.
“In recent weeks, the situation has improved a little, and if it is maintained, then we can return to the plans (of investment). When we speak before, a few months ago, the things (imports) there were some modifiers, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is, it is difficult.
Narendran warned that the dumping threat is real, especially with global demand, the capacity of demand and surplus capacity to find its path to the Indian coast.
Agree for him, China is flooding international markets with an excess of alloy supply at prices “that make no sense”, in some cases, only lower than its production cost. As a result, the exhibitors here have Legsitant to make sacrifices in international markets, while factories focus on the legs on “protecting their internal market.”
Narendran was talking outside the Aima leadership conclave here.
Exports remain depressed as global commercial feelings continue to be weak, he said.
The acute entries of the increase (and the decrease in exports), largely driven by the reduction of prices by players in China, has renewed calls for safeguard measures and throw a cloud on capital allocation plans in the sector. Companies have been reconsidered their investment decisions.
Import trends
“(Imports) was a group … That is why we had pressing the safeguarding tasks. The government has started the process, and we are waiting for the final authorization. Once the Government announced that it was the duty of duty, we go to the measures on the imports of Safeguard Dutyard’s Dutyard Dutyard Dutyard’s Dutyard Dutherard.
Steel imports in fiscal year 2015 reached a maximum of 10 years or 9.5 million tons (MT), and India became a net importer of alloy. Exports were at a minimum of 10 years or 5 TM. However, in recent months, imports have witnessed a decline trend, indicating some relief for alloy manufacturers.
In January, imports stood at 0.9 TM, which moves around December, and in February, 36 percent (during January) to 0.6 TM were submerged. In March, there was a sequential fall of around 8 percent to 0.56 TM, according to the data of the Ministry of Steel.
Narendran said the situation has been compared slightly easily with the late 2024.
“So right now, imports (of steel) are a problem, but not as large as they have three months ago. But we need to be vigilant due to what is happening worldwide due to tariffs (of Trump). Added.
Price walks
India steel manufacturers recently increased alloy prices for ₹ 2,000-2,500 per ton for April deliveries. The walks, the sources say, have sustained, but there are still cautious purchases in the market.
Supporting the walk, Narendran said that metal prices here are still around ₹ 20,000 per ton lower than they were two or three years ago. Around the last month, prices have risen, but they are still “anywhere near the long -term average.”
“(The recent price increases) give steel companies some oxygen, but the problem persists. It is not that the creation of steel is such a profitable industry. If it were, you would have many more players,” he said.
Posted on April 16, 2025