In the financial year 2025-26, India's finished steel consumption increased by 7%, reaching 164 million tonnes. This growth was fueled by heightened activity in infrastructure, construction, railways, and manufacturing sectors, as noted by the Ministry of Steel. Crude steel production also saw a significant rise of 10.7%, totaling 168.4 million tonnes. A remarkable aspect of this period was India's export performance, with finished steel exports climbing by 35% to 6 million tonnes, while imports dropped by 31%, allowing India to reclaim its status as a net exporter of steel. The ministry highlighted ongoing investments in production capacity, with India's total steel capacity currently at approximately 220 million tonnes, expected to reach 300 million tonnes by 2030. Major companies like SAIL, Tata Steel, and JSW Steel are actively investing in capacity expansion and technological upgrades. Despite this growth, the sector faced challenges from fluctuating raw material costs, particularly coking coal, and increased logistics expenses due to geopolitical tensions. Disruptions in gas supplies from the Middle East also threatened production continuity, prompting government intervention to increase LPG allocations to vital sectors, including steel. Overall, strong domestic demand has spurred logistics activity, as evidenced by increased freight movement reported by Indian Railways.