New Delhi, Aug 6 : Indiaâ??s production of finished steel during April-July in the current financial year went up to 54.3 million tonnes, which represents a 4 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of 52.2 million tonnes in the same four-month period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Steel on Thursday.

The countryâ??s consumption of finished steel shot up by a robust 7.8 per cent to 55.9 million tonnes during April-July, compared with 51.9 million tonnes in the same period last year, as demand from big-ticket infrastructure projects taken up by the government in the highways, railways and port sectors fuelled demand.

Indiaâ??s steel exports also surged by 35 per cent during April-July this year to 22,92,300 tonnes, compared with the corresponding figure of 16,98,000 tonnes in the same period last year.

In value terms, the exports during April-July jumped by 29.4 per cent to Rs 18,105.4 crore from Rs 13,996.2 crore in the same period last year.

Indiaâ??s steel exports also surged by 38.1 per cent in June to 6,16,200 tonnes compared with the corresponding figure of 4,46,200 tonnes in the same month last year.

The production of crude steel was recorded at 56.3 million tonnes in April-July of the current financial year, compared with 54.9 million tonnes in the same period of the previous year, which represents a 2.6 per cent increase.

India's total crude steelmaking capacity currently stands at 222 million tonnes per annum, keeping the industry on track to achieve the National Steel Policy target of 300 million tonnes per annum by 2030, according to an official statement.

Public steel giant SAIL reported a strong performance in the first quarter of FY 2026-27, with net profit rising over 138 per cent year-on-year to Rs 1,636 crore. The company recorded revenue from operations of Rs 26,246 crore during the quarter, reflecting improved financial performance.

SAIL received a Licensing Agreement for Transfer of Technology (LAToT) from the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory of DRDO to manufacture "DMR-249A, DMR-249B and DMR-249BK grade steel" for naval ships and submarines, strengthening India's indigenous capability in specialised defence-steel manufacturing and supporting the country's defence manufacturing sector.

SAIL also marked a sustainability milestone with the inauguration of its first Micro Pellet Plant at Rourkela Steel Plant in July 2026 â?? a 0.18 MTPA facility that converts steelmaking waste into value-added micro pellets. The plant supports RSP's efforts to reduce landfill waste and improve raw material self-sufficiency by recycling process residues.

/IANS