New Delhi, April 16 -- Global steel demand is likely to remain weak in the near term as the World Steel Association sees growth of just 0.3 per cent in 2026, with a stronger recovery only coming in 2027, according to a report by Centrum. China remains the main drag on demand, while India stands out as the bright spot, the brokerage noted

Despite soft demand, steel prices have jumped across major markets. For raw materials, iron ore and non-coking coal have moved up, but coking coal slipped from last month. Among non-ferrous metals, aluminium is still the top performer with prices holding firm, while other metals like copper, zinc, and nickel saw small dips, the report said.

The report suggests that the drag is mainly China, where demand...