ROLE OF IRON & STEEL PLANTS IN INDIA

Total production of finished steel in 1996-97 was 22.72 million tonnes with main producers contributing 10.54 million tonnes (46%) and secondary producers 12.18 million tonnes (54%). During 1997-98, out of a total production of 22.57 MT of finished steel, production by secondary producers was 12.12 million tonnes and by main producers 10.54 million tonnes. The share of main and secondary producers in the total production of finished steel has remained more or less same in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

Demand and Availability of Steel

Total demand for finished steel including domestic requirement and for export in 1996-97 was 24.18 MTs. Against this, the domestic production during the year was 22.72 million tonnes leaving a gap of 1.46 million tonnes which was met through imports.

The highlights of Indian Steel industry is furnished as under :

• India was the 10th largest producer of crude steel in the world in 1997 with a production of 24 million tonnes.
  
• India exported 3.39 million tonnes of iron & steel valued at Rs 2685 crores during 1997-98.
  
• The labour productivity has been maintained at 96 tonnes of crude steel per man year during 1997-98.

Electric Arc Furnace Industry

184 electric arc furnace units in the country with a total installed capacity of 10.44 million tonnes per annum are in existence.

Production of Ingots/concast billets by EAF units, which are reporting their production to the office of the Development Commissioner for Iron & Steel, during the last two years is given below :

Note : The above figures do not include production of steel by the Casting units.

Saboo Group of Industries

505-506, Sahyog Building,58-Nehru Place

New Delhi -110019, INDIA