Steel scrap is rapidly becoming a critical enabler of India’s green steel ambitions, industry leaders highlighted at the 12th Indian Steel Markets Conference, organised by mjunction services limited.

“Steel is one of the few materials that can be recycled endlessly without compromising strength or quality. This makes it the foundation not only of industrial growth, but also of sustainability,” said Vinaya Varma, Managing Director, mjunction services limited, during the opening session of the two-day conference. India currently consumes around 42 million tonnes of scrap annually, growing at over 6 per cent per year, with nearly 9 million tonnes being imported.

Reflecting global priorities around decarbonising steel, this year’s conference is centred on the theme: ‘Indian Steel Value Chain – Recycle. Reshape. Innovate. Sustain.’

“Sustainability is no longer optional—it is strategic,” noted Syed Jawed Ahmed, Executive Director, SAIL, as he outlined the company’s efforts to build capabilities aligned with emerging green steel norms.

Speakers emphasised that sourcing sufficient scrap remains a key challenge as India’s steel demand continues to rise. “Government capex accounts for nearly 60 per cent of steel consumption, but the needs of India’s young and expanding population are also accelerating demand,” said Girishkumar Kadam, Senior Vice President & Group Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA.

The supply side is equally strained. According to Sandeep Kumar, Vice President, Raw Materials, Tata Steel, reliance on imported coking coal is becoming increasingly expensive, while aggressive bidding for iron ore mines is pushing up domestic ore prices.

Beyond decarbonisation, the conference aims to offer sharp insights into the volatile global and domestic environment, policy transitions, shifting trade patterns, and the increasing focus on sustainability that is shaping India’s steel growth trajectory.

mjunction Strengthens Organised Scrap Procurement Ecosystem

With over two decades of leadership in the organised scrap trade, mjunction has been a key partner for industries ranging from Auto OEMs and EPC projects to P&M units and other industrial suppliers. As an early mover in enabling sales from Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs), the company has been sourcing scrap for organised buyers for the last six years.

To address the widening demand–supply gap, mjunction has developed an AI-driven digital procurement platform backed by a specialised team of scrap professionals. The platform ensures structured market access for buyers while maintaining strict environmental, legal, and commercial compliance. More than 250 GST-compliant suppliers have been onboarded across 120+ locations, reinforcing the network’s breadth and credibility.

Over the past three years, mjunction has supplied 1.2 million tonnes of scrap to major Integrated Steel Plants across 15 states. The company has also coordinated logistics for over 37,000 vehicles and 64 rail rakes, ensuring smooth, end-to-end delivery, Varma noted.