Steel Imports Surge 57.9% in June 2026 — Full Data
57.9%.
In June 2026, finished steel imports into India surged 57.9% year-on-year. The domestic producers filed a formal complaint. To this end, the government responded by launching an anti-dumping investigation.
DGTR has already initiated an anti-dumping investigation into hot-rolled flat steel imports from China, Japan, and Russia. The complaint was filed by JSW Steel, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics, and Jindal Steel Odisha — three of India's largest producers — who say foreign steel is being dumped into the Indian market at unfairly low prices.
The Ministry of Steel’s complete data for Q1 FY2026-27 shows a sector producing more, consuming more – but also importing a lot more. The numbers have this to say.Here is what the numbers show
🏭 Steel Production — June 2026
| Product | Jun 2026 (MT) | Jun 2025 (MT) | YoY % | Apr-Jun 2026 (MT) | Apr-Jun 2025 (MT) | CPLY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Steel | 14.1 | 13.5 | +3.9% | 42.1 | 40.8 | +3.0% |
| Hot Metal | 7.9 | 7.9 | -0.3% | 23.5 | 23.2 | +1.4% |
| Finished Steel | 13.8 | 13.0 | +6.0% | 41.0 | 38.7 | +5.9% |
💰 Steel Prices — June 2026 (₹/tonne)
| Product | Apr-26 | May-26 | Jun-26 | MoM % | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TMT (10mm) | 63,893 | 63,053 | 60,068 | -4.7% | +4.4% |
| HR Coil (2mm) | 70,588 | 70,460 | 70,108 | -0.5% | +11.2% |
| CR Coil (0.63mm) | 78,410 | 77,915 | 77,053 | -1.1% | +11.4% |
| GP Sheet (0.63mm) | 89,203 | 89,013 | 86,505 | -2.8% | +15.8% |
Note: Prices inclusive of GST. Average from Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai. Second fortnight of each month. Source: PIB, Ministry of Steel
📊 Demand — Consumption Growing Strong
| Indicator | Jun 2026 (MT) | Jun 2025 (MT) | YoY % | Apr-Jun 2026 | Apr-Jun 2025 | CPLY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Steel Consumption | 14.2 | 13.2 | +7.2% | 41.6 | 38.4 | +8.3% |
Steel consumption rose 7.2% in June, driven by India’s active infrastructure pipeline in highways, railways and housing. Imports are satisfying a rising share of that demand, prompting the DGTR probe.
🌍 Trade — The Import Surge That Triggered the Probe
- Cumulative Steel Imports: Reached ₹20,214.5 Crore, marking a sharp 44.2% increase compared to ₹14,018.7 Crore during the same period last year.
- Cumulative Steel Exports: Stood at ₹12,475.2 Crore, a 27.6% increase from ₹9,776.0 Crore last year.
- Net Trade Position: India remains a net importer of finished steel, facing a staggering quarterly trade deficit of -₹7,739.3 Crore.
Three of India's largest steel producers — JSW Steel, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics, and Jindal Steel Odisha — filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) saying that hot-rolled flat steel from China, Japan, and Russia is being sold in India at unfairly low prices — below what these countries charge in their own domestic markets.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Investigation By | DGTR — Directorate General of Trade Remedies, Ministry of Commerce |
| Countries Under Probe | China, Japan, Russia |
| Product | Hot-rolled flat products — alloy and non-alloy steel up to 25mm thick |
| Complainants | JSW Steel, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics, Jindal Steel Odisha |
| Investigation Period | January–December 2025 (proposed) |
| Formal Initiation Date | June 25, 2026 |
| Response Deadline | 30 days from notification — exporters, importers, downstream users |
| Timeline for Conclusion | 12 months ordinarily, maximum 18 months under WTO rules |
| ⚠️ Immediate Impact | No duties yet — investigation only. Duties come after final DGTR recommendation to Ministry of Finance |
🪨 Raw Material Prices — June 2026
| Commodity | May 2026 (₹/tonne) | Jun 2026 (₹/tonne) | MoM Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMDC Iron Ore Baila Lump (65.5%) | 5,500 | 5,700 | +3.6% |
| NMDC Iron Ore Baila Fines (64%) | 4,700 | 4,850 | +3.2% |
| MOIL Manganese Ore Lump | 20,532 | 19,505 | -5.0% |
| Scrap — HMS II | 42,533 | 40,665 | -4.4% |
📈 Key Market Indices — June 2026
| Index | Apr 2026 | May 2026 | Jun 2026 | MoM % | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nifty Metal Index (avg.) | 12,471.9 | 13,224.9 | 12,971.9 | -1.9% | +39.3% |
| PMI Manufacturing Index | 54.7 | 55.0 | 54.2 | -1.5% | -7.2% |
| Baltic Dry Index (avg.) | 2,442.8 | 3,048.9 | 2,779.9 | -8.8% | +64.9% |
Source: NSE, S&P Global, Trading Economics
🏛️ Policy and Industry Highlights
- 🤖 Digital Transformation — The Ministry of Steel highlighted its digital agenda through the Chintan Shivir held on June 24, 2026, encouraging AI, automation, and predictive maintenance across the Indian steel industry
- 🏅 MECON gets Miniratna Category-I — Ministry of Steel granted this status recognising MECON's consistent financial performance and operational excellence — giving it greater financial and operational autonomy
- ⚖️ Anti-Dumping Probe — DGTR initiated investigation into hot-rolled flat steel imports from China, Japan, Russia — initiated June 25, 2026 — complaints filed by JSW Steel, JSW Vijayanagar Metallics, Jindal Steel Odisha
- ⚓ SAIL Supplies Naval Steel — SAIL supplied the entire 5,700 tonnes of special steel for three recently commissioned Indian Navy vessels — INS Dunagiri, INS Agray, and INS Sanshodhak
- ⛏️ NMDC Production — NMDC reported iron ore production of 5.15 MT in June 2026 — up 44% year-on-year. Cumulative Q1 FY2026-27 production reached 15.10 MT
- 🏗️ JSW Kadapa Plant — JSW Group announced commencement of construction of its proposed integrated steel plant of 2 MTPA in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh
- 🌿 Green Steel — SAIL Rourkela Steel Plant launched a CO₂ Dashboard — a first-of-its-kind digital platform with 100% ERP-SAP based data integration to strengthen decarbonisation efforts
✅ What This Means — For Steel Traders and Importers
- 🔩 HRC importers from China, Japan, Russia — register as interested parties with DGTR immediately. The 30-day window from June 25 closes soon. Participation in the investigation protects your commercial interests if duties are eventually imposed
- 🏭 Downstream steel users — auto, aerospace, telecom, defence — the anti-dumping probe covers hot-rolled flat products. Monitor DGTR notifications for provisional duty announcements which can come 60+ days after initiation
- 💰 Steel price outlook — TMT prices fell 4.7% month-on-month in June. HR Coil, CR Coil, GP Sheet also eased. Near-term prices may remain under pressure from import competition until the investigation concludes
- 📦 Steel exporters — exports grew 38.1% in June 2026 — a strong positive. But India remained a net importer in Q1. Exporters should watch DGTR investigation outcomes as they signal government intent on trade protection
- 🏗️ Infrastructure and construction — 7.2% consumption growth confirms strong domestic demand. The government's infrastructure pipeline is very much active and driving real steel offtake
The investigation will take 12 to 18 months. No duties apply yet. But the outcome will shape how India balances its infrastructure-driven steel demand against its trade protection commitments — and that makes this one of the more consequential policy decisions the steel sector will see in the near term.
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💬 Join WhatsApp Group 📝 Follow on QuoraDisclaimer: All data in this post is sourced from the official PIB press release dated 06 July 2026 (Release ID: 2281676), Ministry of Steel, Government of India, and provisional JPC data for June 2026. Anti-dumping investigation details sourced from DGTR notification dated June 25, 2026. This post is for informational and awareness purposes only.