New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- India has emerged as a net importer of finished steel in recent years, with imports exceeding exports, according to official data presented in Parliament by Minister of State for Steel Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma.

Steel Trade Trends (2019-2025)

Data from the Joint Plant Committee (JPC) indicates that India's finished steel trade balance has fluctuated over the past six financial years. Exports exceeded imports in 2020-21 and 2021-22, but the trend reversed thereafter.

In 2019-20, imports were valued at Rs 44,683 crore against exports of Rs 36,727 crore. Imports fell to Rs 32,154 crore in 2020-21, while exports rose to Rs 47,170 crore. In 2021-22, exports peaked at Rs 99,452 crore compared with imports of Rs 46,29...