India’s steel industry continues to face a shortage of specialised high-grade steel required for oil and gas pipelines, forcing pipe manufacturers such as Jindal SAW to depend on overseas suppliers. Managing Director Sminu Jindal said domestic mills are developing advanced grades, but production volumes remain too low to offer competitive pricing.
Jindal SAW currently imports around 35–40% of its specialised steel, sourcing material from countries including South Korea and China based on price and availability. Some higher API and specialised grades, including N60 and N65, are still not produced adequately in India.
Indian producers including JSW Steel and Jindal Steel have started supplying certain specialised grades, while AM/NS India has developed grades such as X100. However, limited volumes and higher costs continue to make imports commercially attractive for pipe manufacturers.The supply gap highlights a major opportunity for Indian steelmakers as domestic demand for high-performance steel grows across oil, gas and infrastructure projects. Expanding local production could reduce import dependence and strengthen India’s value-added steel ecosystem.
