JSW Steel plans to end iron ore imports as domestic supply rises

JSW Steel, India's largest iron ore importer, plans to phase out imports of the key steelmaking raw material as new domestic mines and logistics infrastructure come online, a top company executive said. The shift aims to shield the steelmaker from global price shocks and reduce India's dependence on overseas supplies.

Puneet Jagatramka, executive vice president at JSW Steel, said at BigMint's India Ferrous Week in Kolkata that the company wants to eliminate imports because India is rich in iron ore deposits. JSW Steel currently meets about two-fifths of its ore requirement through captive mines, with the remainder sourced from the market and imports. India imported 12.2 million tonnes of iron ore in 2025, the highest in seven years, with JSW Steel accounting for nearly 80% of that.

The company plans to bid for upcoming iron ore mine auctions and invest in logistics infrastructure, including building a pipeline from NMDC's mines to a port. JSW Steel is expanding capacity from 35 million tonnes to 55 million tonnes by 2030 and 79 million tonnes by 2032, making secure domestic ore supplies increasingly important. About 30 million tonnes of pipeline capacity is expected to become operational within a year.