Question : Crude Steel Production

(a) the details of production of crude Steel and annual increase therein during each of the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether the said increase is sufficient for present demand in the country and to meet its export demand;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the financial requirement of the sector to achieve these targets;
(d) the total quantity of crude steel exported during the said period, country-wise; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to increase the production of steel in the country?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR STEEL (SHRI VISHNU DEO SAI)

(a) Data on crude steel production and annual increase (in percentage terms) during each of the last three years and the current year is given below:-

Year Crude Steel
Production (mt) % change over last year
2014-15 88.98 8.9
2015-16 89.79 0.9
2016-17 97.94 9.1
April-Jan., 2017-18* 84.68 4.5
Source : JPC; mt = million tonnes ; *provisional

(b)to(d): Crude steel is converted to finished steel for consumption and export. The position is given below:-

Year Total Finished Steel (mt)
Production for sale Export Consumption
2014-15 92.16 5.59 76.99
2015-16 90.98 4.08 81.52
2016-17 101.81 8.24 84.04
April-Jan., 2017-18* 88.37 8.22 72.52
Source: JPC; *provisional
The data indicate that production for sale has exceeded domestic consumption during the period in question. The data on export of finished steel, country-wise, during the period is given at Annexure – I.

(e) Steel is a deregulated sector and role of Government is that of a facilitator. The Government has taken various measures to promote steel sector which amongst others include trade measures such as anti dumping duties, safeguard duties and temporary introduction of Minimum Import Price; notified Quality Control Order thereby making BIS standards mandatory for all steel products and imports; notified the policy on Domestically Manufactured Iron and Steel Products in Government procurement which facilitates domestic value addition; and notified National Steel Policy, 2017 with a view to encourage long term growth of steel sector.

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