New Delhi: State-owned Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) reported a strong sales performance during the first eight months of the current financial year, posting a 14 per cent year-on-year growth in total sales despite persistent global headwinds, underlining the resilience of domestic steel demand.
During the April-November period, SAIL sold 12.7 million tonnes (MT) of steel, compared with 11.1 MT in the corresponding period last year. The company attributed the growth to a focused and agile sales strategy that helped it counter volatile international steel prices, shifting demand patterns and uncertainties stemming from geopolitical tensions and evolving global trade policies.
Retail sales also remained robust over the eight-month period, rising 13% to 0.97 MT from 0.86 MT a year earlier. SAIL said sustained nationwide brand promotion campaigns and deeper retail outreach supported the improved performance, particularly in value-added and long products.
The momentum was especially pronounced in November, when overall sales volumes jumped 27% year-on-year. Retail sales during the month surged 69 per cent to 0.14 MT, compared with 0.084 MT in November 2024. The strong showing was driven by higher volumes across multiple product categories and distribution channels, including domestic saleable steel, increased road dispatches and door deliveries from warehouses. During the month, SAIL also emerged as the highest seller of thermo-mechanically treated (TMT) bars in the country.
Analysts said the performance reflects SAIL’s customer-centric approach and its ability to navigate a challenging global environment marked by price pressures and demand volatility. The company operates five integrated steel plants located in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal, with a combined crude steel production capacity of over 20 million tonnes per annum, under the administrative control of the Ministry of Steel.
With domestic demand holding steady and retail penetration continuing to strengthen, SAIL appears well-positioned to sustain its growth trajectory in the coming months, even as global steel markets remain uncertain.