India: Steel Ministry targets to double rural steel demand

The government has a fixed objective of increasing rural consumption of steel from the current 19.6 kg/per capita to 38 kg by 2030-31. While the national steel consumption average stands at 74.7 kg, the government is aiming to increase rural per capita consumption to 36 mn t from the current 18-odd mn t/per annum. It deserves mention that demand emanating from rural India provided the silver lining during the COVID-19 lockdown when export demand coupled with rural recovery supported steel sales.