Panaji: The Indian ferro-alloy industry has called for faster development of domestic manganese, chromium and other critical mineral resources, along with lower import duties and competitive power costs, as India’s steel demand and production continue to rise.With steel demand expected to grow by around 7% annually, the opportunity for manganese, chromium, silicon and other alloying inputs, including iron ore, is significant, said the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers’ Association (IFAPA).“Securing indigenous sources of critical raw materials must be a priority for Indian ferro-alloy producers to become globally competitive. We need faster exploration and development of domestic manganese, chrome and other critical minerals. While several manganese ore mines have been auctioned at high premiums, many remain non-operational because the economics are often unviable,” said IFAPA chairperson Manish Sarda.India’s crude steel production reached around 165 million tonnes in calendar 2025, registering more than 10% year-on-year growth. The association, which held deliberations in Goa on the industry’s future requirements, said improving input-cost competitiveness would be essential as the country targets around 300 million tonnes of steelmaking capacity by FY2031.Sarda said rising demand for specialised steels was expanding the market for manganese, chromium, silicon and other minerals. Silico-manganese production rose from around 1.9 million tonnes in FY2020 to nearly 3.5 million tonnes in FY2026, while ferro-manganese production increased from around 0.9 million tonnes to about 1.7 million tonnes.IFAPA said import policy should consider zero duties on manganese ore and raw materials required for ferro-alloys where suitable domestic grades are unavailable.“Auction frameworks should therefore encourage actual mine development and production, not simply the highest bid. A producing mine creates value for the industry and the economy; an unviable mine does not. Commercially viable access to domestic mineral resources will be critical to reducing import dependence,” Sarda said.The association also sought competitive power costs for energy-intensive ferro-alloy producers and rationalisation of electricity-related charges and levies.India was the world’s leading exporter of manganese alloys in 2025, but the association said raw-material security remained a concern. Manganese ore imports rose 27% year-on-year to 4.03 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, according to IFAPA.
