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The ‘Long' Way Forward

Finished steel production and consumption is divided into two broad categories - long and flat products. In addition to these two prime segments, finished steel output and consumption also includes alloy steel. Among these product segments, long steel products accounts for the largest share in country’s total finished steel production.

Will Global Steel Ride China Rail to Turnaround?

Will the global steel industry hope achieve a turnaround in 2017 riding on Chinese rail?

2017: The Year Of Long-Overdue Restructuring Of Steel Industry

The commencement of a long overdue restructuring of the Indian steel industry may be seen as one of the sectoral milestones of 2017.

Prices Of Silico Manganese On High Growth Trajectory

The Indian producers of Ferro alloys are quoting or trading at an export price of about $1,1501,160 on FOB basis for 65-15 percent grade silico manganese (SiMn).

Tata Steel Net Profit Surges In Q3

Tata Steel recorded a 389.83 percent increase in consolidated net profit during the third quarter to ₹1,135.92 crore, against ₹231.90 crore in same period last year, led by higher production and sales volume in India and improved realisations, the company said in a BSE filing.

One India, One Power Tariff Is Need Of The Hour

The installed capacity of the bulk ferro alloys industry in India is 5.15 million tons but the capacity utilisation level is only at 50-55 percent. This is because the domestic ferro alloy industry (manganese alloys) is reeling under high power tariffs and cheaper imports from Malaysia. The need of the hour is thus a relook at the country’s energy pricing policies. India should also look to build further on its existing presence in overseas locations like South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique etc and seek opportunities to own ferro alloy assets there, J K Chatterjee, Secretary General, The Indian Ferro Alloys Producers' Association (IFAPA), tells Madhumita Mookerji. He also feels the industry should look at value-added ferro alloy products big time and explore ways to market the same. Excerpts from a freewheeling interview:

Reduction Of Duties, New Stainless Steel Uses To Spur Growth: ISSDA President

The Indian stainless steel industry is looking ahead at a brighter future as use of stainless steel has started moving away from conventional kitchenware and appliances to other sectors such as architectural building and construction, automotive, railways, transport, process and engineering. However, the per capita consumption is still 2 kg against the world average of 6 kg. Moreover, the capacity utilisation has been low due to the pressures of imports. Removal of the import duty on raw materials such as ferro nickel and stainless steel scrap seems to be the need of the hour. Positive government policies will not only give a fillip to the sector but also help in full utilization of the existing plants’ capacities, which in turn will reduce dependence on imports, said K K Pahuja, President, Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA) in a free-wheeling interview to Ritwik Sinha. Further, the ISSDA President also stressed on use of stainless steel in construction of railway coaches to reduce loss of life caused by accidents.

Large Furnaces Shaping Refractory Future

Large Furnaces Shaping Refractory Future

Primetals Supplies ERT-EBROS Billet Welding System

Primetals Supplies ERT-EBROS Billet Welding System

SAIL Narrows Net Loss To ₹539 Crore In Q2

SAIL Narrows Net Loss To ₹539 Crore In Q2

Traffic Handled By Major Ports Up 3% In Apr-Oct

Traffic Handled By Major Ports Up 3% In Apr-Oct

India Ferrous Scrap Imports, Consumption To Rise

India Ferrous Scrap Imports, Consumption To Rise

Coking Coal Offers Surge In November

Coking Coal Offers Surge In November

Safeguard duty imposed on select imports, MIP extended

The government has slapped a safeguard duty on imports of certain steel products to protect domestic manufacturers from cheap in-bound shipments.

Demonetisation to impact steel & consuming sectors

The government’s demonetisation move will impact the steel industry and its consuming sectors hard, according to analysts.

Tata Steel Reports Higher Consolidated Q1 PAT

Tata Steel Ltd posted consolidated profit after tax from continuing operations before exceptional items at ₹1,550 crores for Q1FY18 compared to ₹377 crores in Q1FY17 and ₹3,352 crores in Q4FY17. The steel major’s consolidated quarterly revenues of ₹30,973 crores is up 19 percent over the last year but down by 12 percent quarter on quarter.

Sail To Emphasis On Product Differentiation: Chairman

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to focus on product differentiation as the key to meet the stiff competition in the era of high over-capacities, said the P K Singh, Chairman of the steel major while interacting with employees at the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).

Iran Well On Its Way To 2025 Goal

Iran is rising in Asian steel market. As per World Steel Association (WSA) data, Tehran has already manufactured more than 66 percent of West Asia’s total steel production in July 2017, with volumes at 1.575 million tons (mt). Moreover, compared on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis, there was a clear 16.58 percent rise in Iranian domestic production as it was 1.351 mt in July 2016.

Coking Coal Continues To Surge In August

Seaborne coking coal prices continued their northward march on sustained Chinese buying of the material, industry sources said.

Steel & Petroleum Ministries In Talks Over Gail Gas Sale To Steel Mills

An old army maxim, which is gaining currency in management courses as well is that, people continue to do what they know. Rarely do people know, at any given point in time, what needs to be done! It is the latter category of activity that can bring about gainful disruptions.

Lime Waiting For Steel's Turnaround

Though lime finds applications in a range of industries, its single largest user world-wide is steel. And, with the market for the latter being depressed for the last few years, the lime industry has been experiencing a sluggish 3-4 percent growth annually in India. Adding to its woes is the fact that the industry is highly unorganised, dominated by bit players. But Sigma Minerals, keeping an eye on future demand, is planning to set up a new modern kiln and hydration plant in the course of the next 2 years at an investment of ₹40-45 crore and is eyeing more mines, preferably in the Nagaur district of north-western Rajasthan, Surendra Nath Bhargava, Managing Director, Sigma Minerals, told Steel Insights.

Iron-Ore Handled By Major Ports Rise Threefold In Apr-Jan

Movement of iron ore through the 12 major Indian ports showed a rise of more than three folds in 2016-17.

'Procurement Strategy Key For Stainless Steel Sector Growth'

Stainless steel consumption in India is growing at 7 - 9 percent annually since the last one decade as the country has now graduated as one of the top three consumers and producers in the world. Since most of the raw material is imported, domestic players remain under margin pressure. In such a situation, procurement planning and strategy will play a key role for meeting the increased requirement of raw materials which constitute around 70 percent of the total cost of production, said R Ganesh, Director - Sourcing, Jindal Stainless Limited in a freewheeling interview to Ritwik Sinha.

India Should Increase Steel Exports To 6-7%: Minister

India Should Increase Steel Exports To 6-7%: Minister

Tata Metaliks Q3 Net Profit Surges

Tata Metaliks Q3 Net Profit Surges

Vedanta Reports Flat Growth In Profit at ₹2,173 Crore In Q3

Vedanta Reports Flat Growth In Profit at ₹2,173 Crore In Q3

Tata Steel Commissions SLS Plant For GCP Slurry

Tata Steel Commissions SLS Plant For GCP Slurry

Budget Disappoints Luxury Car Makers

Budget Disappoints Luxury Car Makers

Insolvency Resolution to Alter Flat Steel Market Terrain

Insolvency Resolution to Alter Flat Steel Market Terrain

Coking Coal Offers Increase in May

Coking Coal Offers Increase in May