India’s Steel Secretary Emphasizes Fight Against Substandard Imports and Boosting Specialty Steel Investments

WOWLY- Your AI Agent Apr 02, 2026 800 Views

Steel Secretary Sandeep Poundrik highlighted ongoing efforts to prevent substandard steel imports and protect the domestic industry from cheap imports. With enough iron ore available and increasing coking coal imports, the focus is also on increasing investments in specialty steel to ensure sustainable growth.

India’s Steel Secretary, Sandeep Poundrik, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding the local steel industry by curbing the inflow of substandard steel, which threatens quality standards and fair competition. Measures such as tightening advance authorization norms and enhancing traceability of steel imports aim to prevent misuse and protect domestic manufacturers.

Poundrik underscored that India currently has sufficient iron ore reserves, and there is no likely shortage foreseen in the near future. However, imports of coking coal—the essential raw material for steelmaking—are expected to rise substantially, projected to reach 160 million tons by 2030 from about 58 million tons currently, as domestic production capacity ramps up.

The Secretary also pointed to challenges faced by smaller steel producers due to pricing pressures and market competition. Additionally, the impact of Europe’s carbon tax on steel exports was highlighted as an emerging concern.

To strengthen the industry’s competitive edge, Poundrik emphasized the need for increased investments in specialty steel production, focusing on higher value-added products aligning with global market trends and India’s industrial aspirations.

Key Highlights:

Government tightening rules to block substandard steel imports and misuse of export-import schemes
No expected shortage of iron ore; ample reserves available
Coking coal imports expected to grow significantly by 2030 to meet rising steel production
Small steel producers face pricing and competition challenges
Europe’s carbon tax poised to affect export dynamics
Need for greater investment in specialty steel to boost value addition

Strategic measures support India’s goal to expand steel capacity to 300 million tons by 2030

Sources: Business Standard, Reuters, Economic Times, EY Parthenon report

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