2. Present Situation of the Indian Steel Industry
The steel industry is one of the major industries of India
India ranks 5th in the world ranking for production of steel
Projected to become the world’s second largest producer by
2015–2016
India produced 66.8 million tonnes in 2010-11, while China,
at the top of the list, produced 626.7 million tonnes.
The total employment in the industry is more than two
million (including direct and indirect employment)
Per capita consumption of steel in India (at 50 kg per annum)
is well below the world average (at about 200 kg per annum)
and much below that of the developed world (around 350 kg
per annum)
3. Players in the Industry
Tata Steel: Producer and supplier of wire rods, bars, and steel flats
Jindal Steel & Power: Manufacturer of mild steel slabs and sponge iron
Jindal Iron & Steel: Producer of galvanized steel products
Essar Steel: Producer of sponge iron, steel and iron ore pellets
Bokaro Steel Plant: Steel manufacturer
Ambica Steel: Producer of carbon steel, alloy, and stainless steel
Lloyds Steel: Producer of corrugated sheets and steel coils
Steel Authority of India: Manufacturer of steel and iron
4. Market Share of Different Players
SAIL
TISCO
17%
6%
RNIL
4%
OTHERS
63%
ESAAR, ISPAT,
JSWL
10%
5. Current Challenges Being Faced
Many steel giants signed MoUs with several state
governments (especially Jharkhand, Odisha, Chattisgarh and
West Bengal) for new projects but none of them have
materialised
It has taken 5 long years for Tata Steel’s Kalinganagar
(Odisha) project to complete the rehabilitation and
resettlement process
JSW’s proposed Salboni plant (W.B) hasn’t been allotted the
required amount of land, and moreover the
government, recently, took control over about 400 acres of
land bought by the company because of a state rule that any
outsider can’t buy more than 24 acres of village land
POSCO is facing massive resistance from the natives of
Jagatsinghpur (Odisha) for land acquisition while many other
steel plants are awaiting aid from the government in terms of
either land or infrastructure
6. Challenges before the Indian Steel Industry
Three areas that need to be improved upon in the view of the
exports are the infrastructure, ability to draw the top names in
steel, and wealth creation issues.
The methods that are adopted for the creation of wealth act as
hindrances to the growth and development of the Indian steel
industry
Not been able to draw the best professionals in the steel industry
and that has been a major drawback of the industry
Not enough land available to support increase the volume of
production because of consistently increasing population of India
Dependence on the overseas technological assistance
7. Government Regulations
More importance on infrastructure development in the Union
Budget 2011. It would lead to development of
highways, ports, power projects, bridges and others, which will
increase the demand for steel
With effect from May 24, 1992 steel industry was incorporated in
the list of ‘high priority’ industries for automatic approval for
foreign equity investment up to 51 per cent. This limit has since
been increased to 100 per cent
Import duties on key steel-making raw materials, comprising of
mineral products, ores and concentrates have seen noteworthy
reductions in successive budgets during the last few years
The government introduced special economic zones (SEZs) in June
2005, with the plan of creating internationally competitive regions.
Steel plants operating in SEZs receive some advantages like tax
holiday; they can freely source inputs domestically or externally
without any specific approval or duty payable
8. Environment
The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007–2012) has allocated
investments worth US$ 490 billion for the infrastructure
sector, comprising
power, roads, highways, railways, ports, airports, mining
and irrigation. Steel giants such as JSW Steel and Tata
Steel are investing to enhance the capacities of products
such as TMT bars (rebars)
With stricter implementation of environmental
rules, and a new mining bill that seeks to have companies
pay 26 of their profits to displaced locals
Companies are expected to spend more on environment
and society
9. Road Ahead
The Indian crude steel production will grow at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of around 10 per cent during 2010-
2013, according to a research report by RNCOS titled, “Indian Steel
Industry Outlook to 2012
Initiatives have been taken by the Government to boost economic
growth, by injecting funds in industries such as
construction, infrastructure, automobile, and power. This will
provide an impetus for growth for the steel industry in future
Steel consumption in India is expected to grow considerably in
coming years
A report by Ernst & Young states that India would have annual
production capacity of 101 MT in 2011-12
Many global steel players have been planning to enter the market or
have announced their expansion plans.E.g. ArcelorMittal and
POSCO have planned mega Greenfield projects at various locations
in India.