India became a net exporter of rolled steel in October

India became a net exporter of rolled steel in October 2025, according to preliminary government data, Reuters reports.

Finished steel exports reached 0.6 million tons, up 44.7% from October last year. At the same time, finished steel imports amounted to 0.5 million tons, down 55.6% year-on-year, indicating a decrease in the country’s dependence on foreign supplies.

According to the data, finished steel production in India reached 13.4 million tons, showing a 10% increase compared to October 2024. At the same time, domestic steel consumption increased to 13.6 million tons, up 4.7% year-on-year. Demand from domestic consumers remained stable, supporting production volumes.

Steel production in India in October amounted to 14.02 million tons, showing an increase of 9.4% y/y. This confirms that the Indian steel industry continues to increase production volumes while reducing its dependence on imports of finished products.

The positive export dynamics are due to both growing demand for Indian steel abroad and increased production capacity efficiency. The reduction in imports indicates that domestic production is sufficient to meet the country’s needs.

It should be recalled that India reached its target steel production capacity of 205 million tons per year in the 2024/2025 financial year, according to a report by MP Financial Advisory Services. The country is confidently moving towards its strategic goal of 300 million tons per year by the 2030/2031 financial year.