India steel imports from China hit record high: Govt data

India’s finished steel imports surge, driven by China, raising concerns for domestic mills

India‘s finished steel imports from China have hit an all-time high during the first eight months of the fiscal year ending in March 2025, according to provisional government data. This rise has sparked concerns among domestic steel producers about the impact of cheap shipments from China.

During this period, India’s total finished steel imports reached an eight-year high, with the country becoming a net importer despite being the second-largest crude steel producer in the world. The data shows that India imported 6.5 million metric tons of finished steel, marking a 26.6% year-on-year increase.

China, which remains a major exporter of steel to India, shipped 1.96 million metric tons during April-November, up 22.8% compared to the previous year. The steel exports from China included a variety of products such as stainless steel, hot-rolled coils, plates, electrical sheets, galvanized plain or corrugated sheets, pipes, bars, and rods.

Additionally, finished steel imports from Japan also saw a significant rise, reaching a six-year high with imports more than doubling to 1.4 million metric tons during the same period. China, Japan, and South Korea accounted for 79% of India’s total finished steel imports in this period.

Among the products imported, hot-rolled coils were the most common, followed by bars and rods in the non-flat product category.

In response to the surge in imports, the Indian government has initiated a probe to determine whether to impose a safeguard duty, potentially as high as 25%, to curb excessive steel imports.

India became a net steel importer in the financial year ending in March 2024, and imports have continued to rise since then. The influx of cheap steel from China has prompted India’s smaller mills to reduce operations and consider job cuts, as the government explores measures to address the situation.

Despite the rising imports, India’s domestic steel demand remains robust, driven by strong economic growth and a surge in infrastructure development.

However, exports of finished steel from India fell to an eight-year low during the same period, with Italy being the largest export market. Exports to Italy dropped by 31.8%, while shipments to the UK and Belgium saw increases of 16% and 6.9%, respectively.

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