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Positive Steel Market Sentiment in Asia Driven by India’s Strategic Initiatives

India’s steel market is showcasing strong momentum, characterized by the government’s commitment to enhancing the domestic steel industry and raw material security. Recent articles such as The Indian government will increase its focus on steel industry and raw material security and GTRI: Import curbs on LAM coke push up Indian steel prices highlight this shift, which is further reflected in satellite-observed activity data revealing notable increases in local steel plant operations, particularly at the Tata Steel BSL Dhenkanal plant and Neelachal Ispat Nigam.

Bar chart and satellite map of steel production activity in Asia

Tata Steel BSL Dhenkanal and Neelachal Ispat Nigam show significant operational peaks, with activity levels reaching 54.0% and 92.0% respectively by September and October 2025. Conversely, Shandong Taishan Steel Group’s activity lags at around 15% to 14%, with no direct correlation to recent Indian policy implementations, suggesting a competitive edge for Indian plants.

Shandong Taishan Steel Group operates with an integrated process using Blast Furnace (BF) and Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) technologies but has faced declining activity alongside slow market demand. No specific connection to the Indian policy initiatives could be established from the provided articles.

The Tata Steel BSL plant, utilizing both BF and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) technologies, has experienced steady activity growth, directly correlating with government efforts to restrict imported steel through measures outlined in India Imposes 12% Safeguard Tariff on Steel Imports from China and Others to Protect Domestic Producers.” Such protectionism has bolstered local production capacities, confirmed by rising domestic prices reflected in the India extended import duties on flat rolled products for 3 years article, with current prices rising from Rs45,850 to Rs47,250 per ton.

Neelachal Ispat Nigam’s activity spike correlates with rising domestic demand for semi-finished products, driven by increased infrastructure spending, an essential theme from “The Indian government will increase its focus on steel industry and raw material security.”

To navigate this favorable market, procurement teams should increase their orders with Tata Steel BSL Dhenkanal and Neelachal Ispat Nigam to optimize costs while securing supply as import restrictions are likely to elevate prices further. Steel buyers are urged to mitigate risks by aligning procurement strategies with India’s strategic initiatives while remaining aware of potential supply disruptions in regions reliant on imported LAM coke, as outlined in “GTRI: Import curbs on LAM coke push up Indian steel prices.”