MUMBAI, July 12 -- India remained a net importer of finished steel in the first quarter of FY27, underscoring how strong domestic demand and export-oriented manufacturing continue to drive overseas purchases despite safeguard duties on select products.

Provisional data from the Joint Plant Committee (JPC), reviewed by Mint, showed finished steel imports jumped 49.2% year-on-year to 2.064 million tonnes (mt) during April-June (Q1FY27), outpacing a 31.4% rise in exports to 1.593 mt, leaving India a net importer for the quarter.

Steel imports have remained resilient despite safeguard duties because of strong demand from export-oriented downstream manufacturers, particularly pipe and tube makers, according to Equirus Securities.

As governm...