Global excess capacity behind drop in Indian steel exports

It is interesting to note that in the aftermath of global steel price rise since H2 of last year contributed by revival of investment as a stimulus measure and growth of market sentiments in US, EU and South East Asia, the issue of surplus capacity in steel was pushed to the background from the centre stage it occupied till H1 of 2017.

The just released OECD report on current status of steel capacity reveals that since 2013 till 2017, the global steel making capacity has observed a deceleration and went down by 1.3% in 2017 to reach 2251.2 MT. This may be compared to 1689 MT of global production of crude steel as reported by WSA which indicates a 75% capacity
utilisation.

Arithmatically the excess capacity by 2017 thus works out to be 562.2 MT. The country wise estimates on proposed investments show that approximately 52 MT of steel capacity additions are underway and may come on stream by 2020 and another 39 MT of steel making capacity is in the planning stage.

The West Asia region would be accounting for the maximum capacity additions (23.0 MT) with Iran leading the group. It would be followed by Asia (18.7 MT capacity additions), Africa (5.9 MT), CIS (2.9 MT) and Latin America (1.6 MT) with Brazil and Argentina leading the group. Thus in the absence of any further closures, the global steel capacity is slated to reach 2342.2 MT by 2020. In case the volumes underway and planned are added, Asia would lead the region with an estimated capacity additions of 43 MT followed by West Asia with 32MT of additional
steel capacity by 2020. The excess capacity syndrome, the report concludes, would continue to plague the global steel industry in the coming years.

The report acknowledges that the data have been collected from publicly available and commercial sources whose veracity could not be checked. Accordingly, China has reportedly enhanced its capacity to 1150.1 MT in 2015 which has subsequently come down to 1047.9 MT in 2017 due to closure of steel capacities to the tune of 102.2MT during
the last 2 years and is still continuing. As regards India, the steel making capacity by 2017 has been put at 124.8MT (as against Installed capacity by March 31, 2018 shown at 138MT by JPC).

Some of the projected investments shown for capacity creation of steel making in India are not yet substantiated by firm estimates. Some of these are: Greenfield project at Chattisgarh by Tata steel (5MT), Essar steel at Paradip (6MT), Sesa Sterlite at Ballari (4MT), SAIL/NMDC JV at Chattisgarh(6MT), Uttam Steel and Power at Panjim (1.550 MT), Uttam Galva at Wardha (1MT), NMDC/OMC JV at Odisha(12MT), POSCO at Odisha (12MT), JSW at WB (10MT).

As land acquisition and environmental clearance process delay the commencement of new capacities in India, it would be the brown field creation of capacities by existing steel plants like SAIL at 5 locations, RINL, Tata steel at Kalinganagar and Jharsugoda (erstwhile Bhusan steel), JSW at Dovi and Bellary, JSPL at Angul, Patratu and Raigarh
and Essar steel at Hazira and NMDC at Nagarnar that should be given the maximum thrusts.

Subject to the sustenance of market growth, the green field projects by Arcelor Mittal, JSW, Tata steel and POSCO by 2030 may also be considered. The sourcing and prices of major inputs like iron ore and coking coal along with
ability to beneficiate the inputs for upgradation, the setting up of more coal washeries, substantially higher Pelletisation and less energy consuming technologies would pave the ground for more FDI and encourage private corporate investment in steel sector.

The latest concern for Indian steel industry is the growth in imports and drop in exports. In the first 5 months of the current fiscal, steel imports of 3.8MT is only 3.8% lower than last year, while steel exports at 3.5 MT is 15.2% lower resulting in India having a net deficit of Rs 12,597 crore in steel trade that has contributed to India’s CAD reaching a negative 2.4% of GDP by Q1 of Fy19.

Source : https://www.financialexpress.com