According to SteelOrbis, citing Indian government data, in the 2025/2026 fiscal year ending March 31, the country increased iron ore production by 7% year-on-year to 310 million tons. This is a record result for the Indian market, confirming sustained high activity in the raw materials segment despite uneven dynamics among producers. For the global steel supply chain, this trend is significant as it impacts the balance of ore supply and subsequent pricing in the metallurgy sector.
Growth Structure and Regional Concentration of Production
NMDC recorded the largest growth among major players, increasing production by 21% year-on-year to 53 million tons. OMC also improved its results, growing by 11% to 40 million tons. Tata Steel and SAIL showed more modest increases of 5% and 3% respectively, indicating stable operations rather than the massive commissioning of new capacities.
At the same time, some producers are operating under pressure from operational and regulatory factors. JSW Steel reduced production by 28% to 18 million tons due to disruptions related to mine transitions, while AMNS India saw a 9% decrease to 10 million tons due to issues at the Thakurani mine. This indicates that overall market growth is driven primarily by a few large companies rather than a broad industry-wide upswing.
Regional concentration remains an additional risk factor. Odisha accounted for 157 million tons of production, Chhattisgarh for 53 million tons, and Karnataka for 49.5 million tons. This structure increases the national market's dependence on a limited number of mining regions, where changes in regulation or operating conditions can quickly affect the total supply volume.
Impact on the Steel Market and Solutions from winox.ua
For the global steel market, India's record production means a potential increase in raw material supply, although the effect will be uneven. By the end of the year, captive ore production for internal use decreased by 3% to 120 million tons, while production for sale (merchant) grew by 15% to 190 million tons. This shows that independent, sales-oriented producers are partially compensating for disruptions in integrated metallurgical groups, maintaining market liquidity.
For Ukrainian metal consumers, these dynamics are important because of their impact on the price of raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished rolled steel. Additionally, the market picture is shaped by the fact that in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, India reduced exports of iron ore and pellets by 15% to 25.78 million tons, limiting external supply even amid growing domestic production. In such conditions, businesses need suppliers capable of ensuring predictable procurement terms and efficient logistics.
This is why the importance of a reliable metal supply partner is growing for industrial companies in Ukraine. winox.ua works with trusted manufacturers and helps clients consistently purchase rolled metal, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals even during periods of volatility in the global raw materials market. This approach allows for reduced risks in production programs and more accurate planning of material costs.
What India's Record Means for Industrial Business
India's current result should not be interpreted solely as a signal of oversupply. Despite the record volume, the market remains sensitive to local disruptions, regulatory decisions, and the concentration of mining in specific states. Thus, short-term supply stability does not eliminate structural risks in the medium term.
For metal consumers, this means the need to closely monitor not only absolute production volumes but also ore quality, export policies, and the internal balance between captive and merchant segments. These factors influence prices throughout the chain from raw materials to finished rolled steel. Ultimately, the Indian record serves as an important benchmark for the procurement strategies of metal-working enterprises in 2026.