India’s iron ore imports declined by 11% year-on-year in April 2026, falling to 0.41 million metric tons (mt) from 0.46 million mt in the previous year. This drop follows a record-high import year in 2025 and is attributed to increased domestic mining output and a strategic shift by coastal steel plants toward local ores to mitigate high sea-borne freight costs. Despite the import decline, India’s total domestic iron ore production is projected to remain strong to support its expanding crude steel capacity. The reduction in Indian import appetite may slightly ease the demand pressure on high-grade Australian and Brazilian fines in the spot market.

【SMM Steel】SAIL's Durgapur Steel Plant selected SMS group for a turnkey modernization of its 2x6-strand, six-meter billet casters. The project converts machines to a seven-meter radius using existing foundations. Implementation occurs during ongoing ops, with each caster requiring a five-month shutdown. Caster #1 expected in Q4 2027, #2 in Q3 2028. Upgrades improve long product casting for rebar/wire rod, enable 150x150mm billet production, and provide a 60% output increase. The design adds 160mm round capabilities for future production. The initiative reduces costs and improves availability.

War damage to Iran’s key steel mills threatens ~14 Mt of capacity, sharply reducing crude steel output and exportable supply. While domestic demand remains relatively stable, energy shortages and logistics disruptions amplify losses, tightening regional supply, supporting semi-finished steel prices, and reshaping trade flows.

【SMM Steel】Mobarakeh Steel Co. said its facility sustained "another heavy attack" on Mar 31, the second since Feb 28. Affiliate Sefid Dasht Steel was also damaged. No precise production status was given. Sefid Dasht has 800,000 t/y capacity and supplies sponge iron to Mobarakeh. Before the attack, Iran expected the plants to resume operations soon.

[SMM Steel] India’s Steel Ministry has flagged LPG supply shortages impacting steel plants and conveyed industry concerns to the Petroleum Ministry. Supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict and prioritization of household consumption have reduced industrial LPG availability. Steelmakers are seeking alternative propane supplies, including from Russia, to maintain operations, while shortages may also affect key inputs such as nitric acid, lime, and ammonia used in stainless steel production.

In 2025, China's cumulative magnesium product exports reached 447,000 mt, down 2.7% YoY. The market showed structural differentiation: exports of the traditional mainstay product, magnesium ingot, totaled 251,300 mt (-5.54%), with purchasing as needed prevailing throughout the year due to weak overseas end-use demand and policy fluctuations; magnesium powder exports amounted to 73,600 mt (-11.07%), significantly impacted by the European energy crisis and contraction in the steel industry; magnesium alloy exports reached 99,600 mt (+4.43%), bucking the trend to become the sole bright spot, primarily benefiting from recovering demand in overseas sectors such as NEVs. Geographically, Europe remained the dominant market, but India saw rapidly rising demand in areas like magnesium powder. Looking ahead to 2026, two new policies—customs network verification and export controls to Japan—are expected to drive the market toward greater standardization, with overall export growth projected to be led by deep-processed products like magnesium alloys.

【SMM Steel】ArcelorMittal and EDF formally signed a long-term Nuclear Power Production Allocation Contract on December 26, 2025, to supply low-carbon electricity to ArcelorMittal's steel plants in France. Under this agreement, ArcelorMittal will secure a share of the electricity output from part of EDF's nuclear fleet for the next 18 years. The first energy deliveries under this partnership commenced on January 1, 2026. This arrangement provides ArcelorMittal with competitive and stable energy prices for nearly two decades. The CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe Flat Products stated that securing reliable power supply is essential for the future competitiveness of steel made in France. By partnering with EDF, the steelmaker aims to reduce its carbon footprint, support energy sovereignty, and stabilize its long-term operational costs in Europe.

Recently, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) signed a Mining Services Agreement with engineering services firm Kalinga Commercial Corporation Ltd, entrusting Kalinga with the development and operation of the Rowghat iron ore project in Chhattisgarh, which has a capacity of 14 million mt per year. The long-term contract spans 28 years, including an initial three-year construction period. Under the agreement, Kalinga will be fully responsible for mine development, infrastructure construction, and subsequent operations. The project is expected to significantly enhance SAIL’s integrated steel mills’ security, providing critical support for the steel giant’s continuous production and long-term raw material stability. Earlier, SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant signed a major agreement with Adani Enterprises Limited to develop and expand the Taldih iron ore mine. This partnership also adopts a mine-developer-and-operator model and is expected to raise Taldih mine’s capacity from 2 million mt to 7 million mt per year. The project includes new plants and supporting infrastructure, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Mining operations are expected to begin in 2027 and continue for 25 years. Currently, under SAIL’s management, Taldih mine relies on mobile crushing and screening equipment and small earthmoving machinery for production. SAIL is India’s third-largest producer, after NMDC and Tata Steel, operating 15 iron ore mines located in Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, managed by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), and Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) respectively to meet the raw material needs of all SAIL steel mills. Earlier this year, several Indian media outlets reported that the Ministry of Steel is considering establishing a dedicated mining business unit within SAIL to boost iron ore production. The move aims to support SAIL’s target of increasing steel capacity to 35 million mt per year by 2030.

【SMM Steel】India's Ministry of Steel has approved ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India's plan to construct an iron ore slurry pipeline from Chhattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh via Odisha. The approval represents a significant step for implementing the company's 17 MTPA integrated steel plant in Anakapalle, Andhra Pradesh, with the facility's first phase targeting 8.2 MTPA capacity to become one of India's largest greenfield steel plants. The pipeline will transport iron ore as slurry, establishing cost-efficient logistics that reduce road and rail transport dependency for the project.

【SMM Steel】Poland's Parliamentary Economic and Development Committee has called on the Prime Minister to take immediate action to support the domestic steel industry, citing fierce competition from duty-free steel imports from Ukraine that has sparked discontent among businesses and unions. The Deputy Minister of Economic Development stated the government will strive to ensure steel plants become active participants and beneficiaries in the transition. Industry representatives emphasized that policy effectiveness depends on implementation speed and strength, urging immediate activation of relevant EU regulations allowing suspension of protection measure exemptions when import surges cause serious harm to EU producers of similar or directly competing products.