India’s steelmaking capacity has reached 222 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), marking another milestone in the country’s efforts to achieve the 300 MTPA capacity target envisaged under the National Steel Policy. The expansion has been driven by sustained investments from both public and private sector steel producers, strengthening India’s position as the world’s second-largest crude steel producer.
According to the Ministry of Steel, the country’s steel industry has witnessed steady capacity additions through brownfield expansions and new integrated steel projects. Recent initiatives, including SAIL’s approval to expand the Bhilai Steel Plant from 6.8 MTPA to 10.2 MTPA and JSW Steel’s integrated steel project at Paradip, are expected to further accelerate capacity growth.
The government has maintained that India’s steel demand continues to be supported by robust growth in infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, railways, defence and renewable energy projects. Rising domestic consumption has encouraged steelmakers to expand production capabilities while investing in modern and more sustainable manufacturing technologies.
The Ministry noted that the industry remains on course to meet the National Steel Policy objective of 300 MTPA by 2030, with capacity expansion being complemented by improvements in logistics, raw material availability and technology adoption. It added that ongoing investments are expected to enhance India’s competitiveness and support the country’s long-term industrial and infrastructure development goals.
