[Ferro-Alloys.com] India’s Per-Capita Steel Consumption Crosses 100 kg for the First Time

India has achieved a major milestone in its steel sector, with per-capita steel consumption crossing the 100 kg mark for the first time. This reflects strong momentum in demand, driven primarily by large-scale infrastructure development, housing construction, and industrial expansion.

The growth in consumption is closely linked to the government’s sustained investments in roads, railways, urban development, and renewable energy infrastructure. Projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline and flagship schemes such as the Smart Cities Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana have accelerated steel demand, especially in long products, structural steel, and reinforcement bars.

Industry analysts point out that reaching the 100 kg benchmark brings India closer to the global average of around 230 kg per capita. The gap also presents significant headroom for future growth as the country continues to urbanise and industrialise. Rising disposable incomes, increasing rural infrastructure projects, and the expansion of manufacturing facilities are expected to further push steel usage.

The construction sector remains the largest consumer of steel in India, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total demand. Additionally, the automotive, engineering, and capital goods industries are contributing to the upward trend. With ongoing investments in metro rail networks, dedicated freight corridors, expressways, and renewable energy projects, the requirement for high-quality steel products is set to rise steadily.

Industry experts emphasise the importance of ensuring adequate domestic production capacity, improving logistics efficiency, and maintaining price stability to meet this growing demand sustainably. The milestone also highlights the sector’s potential to play a critical role in India’s economic growth, job creation, and global competitiveness.

• [Editor:tianyawei]