Page 40 - Steel Metallurgy eMagazine Volume September 2026

DEMAND FORECASTING

important enablers of India's long-term and environmentally sustainable will determine how effectively that vision
steel competitiveness. production practices. is translated into sustainable industrial
growth and global competitiveness.
CONCLUDING Having had the opportunity to observe
REMARKS the sector from both the policy and VIEWS DISCLAIMER
operational perspectives, I believe
India's greatest strength lies in the strong The views expressed in this paper are
alignment between its infrastructure purely personal and based on publicly
Nearly a decade after the National Steel aspirations, manufacturing growth and available information from the Ministry
Policy was introduced, the available domestic steel demand. This provides a of Steel, Joint Plant Committee, World
evidence suggests that the policy has solid foundation for future expansion. Steel Association and other industry
largely succeeded in providing a clear The challenge now is to ensure that every sources, together with the author's
strategic direction for the Indian steel component of the value chain—mining, professional experience in the Ministry
sector. Capacity expansion, record transportation, energy, steelmaking and of Steel and NMDC Limited. They do
production levels and sustained growth policy implementation—progresses in a not necessarily represent the views of the
in domestic consumption demonstrate coordinated manner. If this alignment is organisations with which the author has
that significant progress has been made. maintained, India will be well positioned been associated.
At the same time, the next phase of not only to achieve the objectives of
India's steel journey will demand a the National Steel Policy but also to About the Author
greater focus on execution than on strengthen its position as one of the
ambition alone. Capacity addition must world's leading steel-producing nations. Vishad Vats is a strategy and business
be supported by timely investments, The National Steel Policy was designed as transformation professional with 14
efficient project implementation, a long-term roadmap rather than a short- years in mining and public policy,
improved logistics, reliable raw material term programme. The progress achieved including as Chief of Staff to NMDC's
availability, technological advancement so far is encouraging. The coming years Chairman & Managing Director.

+91 - 99762 10215 / 99483 25868 jrajaraman@tvqcoke.com

38 STEEL & METALLURGY SEPTEMBER 2026