Lok Sabha Question No. 38 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Demand of Steel
Ministry: STEEL
Asked by: Ramesh Chander Kaushik, Saikia Dilip

## DEMAND OF STEEL

38. SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA:

Will the Minister of STEEL be pleased to state:

(a) whether there has been a sharp decline in the demand of steel products due to global Corona Pandemic and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether any State has got affected the most by the same ;

(c) if so, whether it has affected States like Odisha and Chhattisgarh the most and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government has formulated any action plan to tackle the situation and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

(SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

## THE MINISTER OF STEEL

(a) The details of demand/consumption of total finished steel (nonalloy+alloy/stainless)  in  India  during  current  year  i.e.  April-July,  2020  and  the corresponding period of the last year are as following: -

| Month   | Total Finished Steel (non-alloy + alloy/stainless) Consumption in thousand tons   | Total Finished Steel (non-alloy + alloy/stainless) Consumption in thousand tons   |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         | Year, 2019                                                                        | Year, 2020                                                                        |
| April   | 7,333                                                                             | 1,092                                                                             |
| May     | 8,850                                                                             | 4,720                                                                             |
| June    | 8,589                                                                             | 6,234                                                                             |
| July    | 8,573                                                                             | 7,405                                                                             |

(b)&(c): The State-wise  consumption  figures  are  not  maintained. However,  various States  have  been  adversely  affected  by  the  Covid  pandemic  and  associated disruption of demand and supply chains.

(d) Ministry of Steel has held several rounds of consultations during the lock down period  with  various  stakeholders  including  industry  associations  and  leaders  of domestic  steel  industry  to  address  their  issues  by  taking  up  the  same  with  the concerned Ministries/ Departments of the Central Government and State Governments. Ministry of Steel also notified a nodal officer in the Ministry to receive representations from the steel industry on issues arising out of lock down for speedy redressal. Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs from time to time have facilitated speedy  resumption  of  steel  production.  The  Ministry  of  Steel  has  also organized the following Webinars with relevant stakeholders to enhance the overall demand for steel in the country:-

- (i) Oil and Gas sector, 16 June, 2020
- (iii) Ispati Irada: Enhancing Steel Usage, 30 June, 2020
- (ii)  Housing and Civil Aviation sector, 18 Aug., 2020

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