New Delhi, Aug. 6 -- India's finished steel consumption continued to grow steadily in July 2026 amid stable production and robust domestic demand, even as the country remained a net importer of finished steel, with imports rising 9.5 per cent year-on-year despite a sharp 44.1 per cent increase in exports, according to data released by the Ministry of Steel.

As per the release, India's finished steel consumption increased 6.5 per cent year-on-year to 14.4 million tonnes (Mt) in July, compared with 13.5 Mt in the same month last year. "India was net importer of finished steel in terms of quantity for the period of Apr-Jul 2026," the release said.

During the April-July 2026 period, consumption rose 7.8 per cent to 55.9 Mt from 51.9 Mt a ye...