SAIL H1 hot metal output 10.2 MT, up 2% on year

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) on Monday said it produced a record 10.2 million tonnes of hot metal in April-September 2026, up 2% from the same period last year.

Crude steel production rose 1% to 9.6 million tonnes in the first half of the fiscal, while finished steel output increased 1% to 8.39 million tonnes , the company said.

Finished steel accounted for 89.2% of SAIL's total saleable steel production during the period, up from 86.8% in April-September 2025.


The state-run steelmaker produced around 2 million tonnes of high-end steel during the six-month period, its highest for April-September and 30% higher than a year earlier.

Iron ore production also recorded its highest level for the period, rising 13% year-on-year. Iron ore sales increased 190% to 2.671 million tonnes.

Dispatches of long rails to Indian Railways rose 7% from a year earlier, while wheels and axles dispatches increased 3%.

On operational parameters, specific energy consumption improved 0.5% to 6.17 G.Cal per tonne of crude steel.

SAIL reduced its inventory by about 0.145 million tonnes and borrowings by around Rs 1,080 crore during the period.

In September, the company recorded its highest saleable steel sales for the month at 1.69 million tonnes, up 4% year-on-year. Sales of SAIL SeQR TMT bars crossed 1.5 lakh tonnes, while Tier-II retail sales increased 3%.

Finished steel accounted for 92% of total saleable steel production in September, compared with 89% in the same month last year. The fuel rate improved 1% to 551 kg per tonne of hot metal.