‘Steel’ing the Show

01 Feb 2025 CW Team

The World Steel Association projects the global demand for steel to post a modest growth of 1.2 per cent in 2025 after a 0.9 per cent decline in 2024. Contrast this with India’s 8 per cent projected growth in steel demand this year, driven by infrastructure investments, and it comes as no surprise that steel imports are rising.

In response to rising imports, the Union Ministry of Steel has proposed doubling the basic customs duty on finished steel products to 15 per cent, up from the current 7.5 per cent, notes Mrityunjay Kumar Srivastava, Head of Supply Chain Management, Tata Projects. With this move, the Government hopes to curb the influx of cheaper steel imports and bolster domestic manufacturers. While these tariffs support local industries, he points out that they also present challenges for companies like Tata Projects, saying, “Increased import costs can strain budgets and affect project timelines.”

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