Domestic vs. imported steel

01 Mar 2019 CW Staff

Pankaj Agarwal, CEO (India), DMIA Group, believes all grades of steel are indigenously produced in reasonably good quantities, but because the demand is exceptional, India ends up importing a big share of the steel consumed. “Of late, there has been no dearth of imported steel in India, as China has a huge surplus and is very aggressive in its export strategies,” he says. “Considering prevailing import duties and other levies, imported steel is a notch cheaper and there is no serious issue with the quality of product.”

However, Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder & Managing Director, Hiranandani Group, and National President, National Real Estate Development Council, is of the opinion that “differences exist in the quality, price and ready availability of locally available steel and steel sourced from global suppliers. While the quality of steel made by Indian companies meets the needs of real-estate projects, there is scope for using steel sourced from global vendors for the development of infrastructure. Even developers could opt to use steel sourced from global suppliers from the price perspective, but this rarely happens.”

In future, Dr Hiranandani hopes the Make in India initiative will ensure that steel products for all sorts of projects will be available in the required quality and quantity, so that project owners can choose the better option between a local supplier and a global supplier.

Instead of the current protectionist import policy, Agarwal suggests getting major steel exporters from China and Russia to manufacture their products in India through a Make in India initiative, to create healthy competition between Indian and international steel producers.

- CHARU BAHRI

India has made major advances in the quality of steel it produces. Leading companies like Essar Steel have developed the capability to produce the high-strength steel required for major infrastructure projects like Bogibeel bridge, Chenab river bridge, etc. Pankaj Agarwal, CEO (India), DMIA Group, believes all grades of steel are indigenously produced in reasonably good quantities, but because the demand is exceptional, India ends up importing a big share of the steel consumed. “Of late, there has been no dearth of imported steel in India, as China has a huge surplus and is very aggressive in its export strategies,” he says. “Considering prevailing import duties and other levies, imported steel is a notch cheaper and there is no serious issue with the quality of product.”However, Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, Founder & Managing Director, Hiranandani Group, and National President, National Real Estate Development Council, is of the opinion that “differences exist in the quality, price and ready availability of locally available steel and steel sourced from global suppliers. While the quality of steel made by Indian companies meets the needs of real-estate projects, there is scope for using steel sourced from global vendors for the development of infrastructure. Even developers could opt to use steel sourced from global suppliers from the price perspective, but this rarely happens.”In future, Dr Hiranandani hopes the Make in India initiative will ensure that steel products for all sorts of projects will be available in the required quality and quantity, so that project owners can choose the better option between a local supplier and a global supplier.Instead of the current protectionist import policy, Agarwal suggests getting major steel exporters from China and Russia to manufacture their products in India through a Make in India initiative, to create healthy competition between Indian and international steel producers.- CHARU BAHRI

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

Jyoti Structures FY26 profit rises 56.5%

Jyoti Structures (JSL) recently reported strong financial results for the quarter and year ended 31 March 2026, driven by disciplined execution, cost management and steady progress across its order book.For Q4 FY2025-26, total income rose 44.2 per cent to Rs 2.41 billion from Rs 1.67 billion in Q4 FY2024-25. EBITDA increased 58.6 per cent to Rs 237 million, while EBITDA margin improved by 89 basis points to 9.84 per cent. Profit before tax grew 53.3 per cent to Rs 188.5 million, and net profit rose 51.9 per cent to Rs 181.4 million.For FY2025-26, total income grew 53.1 per cent to Rs 7.72 bill..

Infrastructure Energy

04 May 2026

Cat BEPU to Power Doppstadt Separator at IFAT 2026

Caterpillar’s Cat Battery Electric Power Unit (BEPU) has been selected by Doppstadt to power its SWS 6 Spiral Shaft Separator, which will be showcased for the first time at IFAT 2026 in Munich, Germany, from 4–7 May.The compact plug-and-play BEPU is designed to replace a diesel engine within the same space, using the same mounting locations and relative machine position. It integrates the battery, motor, inverter, onboard charging, cooling and controls, enabling OEMs to electrify existing chassis platforms without extensive redesign.Caterpillar and Cat dealer Zeppelin Power Systems have be..

Infrastructure Urban

04 May 2026

VECV sales rise 6.9% in April 2026

VE Commercial Vehicles, a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, recorded sales of 7,318 units in April 2026, compared to 6,846 units in April 2025, registering 6.9 per cent growth. The total included 7,159 units under the Eicher brand and 159 units under the Volvo brand.Eicher branded trucks and buses reported sales of 7,159 units during the month, up 6.6 per cent from 6,717 units in April 2025. In the domestic commercial vehicle market, Eicher sales rose 8.6 per cent to 6,797 units from 6,257 units a year earlier.Exports declined 21.3 per cent, with VECV recording 362 units in ..