en.Wedoany.com Reported - China's exports of finished steel to India doubled in April, reaching their highest level in at least two years. Indian producers are concerned that cheap Chinese products could still impact the local market, even with import tariffs in place.
According to preliminary data from the Indian government, China exported approximately 232,000 tons of finished steel to India in April, becoming the largest supplier of Chinese finished steel products in this market. The import surge occurred after India, the world's second-largest crude steel producer, imposed three-year tariffs on various steel products starting last December, a measure that had previously reduced Chinese product exports to India. The imports primarily consist of hot-rolled coils and stainless steel products, with the former subject to tariffs and the latter duty-free.
Tarun Khulbe, Managing Director of Jindal Stainless, stated that the influx of cheap Chinese stainless steel is causing serious problems for the Indian industry. Some supplies enter India through Vietnam, an ASEAN member state with which India has a free trade agreement. In April, Vietnam also ranked among the top five sources of steel exports to India, with export volumes surging more than fourfold to 59,000 tons. Khulbe said such imports violate fair competition principles, reduce the attractiveness of industry investment, and undermine the long-term competitiveness of Indian manufacturing.
Industry representatives indicated that Chinese steel attracts buyers with lower prices, costing $11 to $37 per ton less than local products. Some hot-rolled coils, unable to enter the Middle East market due to conflicts around Iran, have been diverted to India. Consulting firm BigMint predicts that China's exports to India will further increase in May.
In April, India once again became a net importer of steel, after imports had declined in previous months due to tariff impacts. However, in the 2025/26 fiscal year, India's total steel imports from China fell by 39.4% to 1.5 million tons, with India itself remaining a net exporter. Experts believe that booming infrastructure construction and the automotive industry have driven up demand for imported steel. In April, India's finished steel consumption reached 13 million tons, an 8.2% year-on-year increase.
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