New Delhi: India's expanding steel industry is creating new opportunities for the domestic ferro-alloys sector and could help the country strengthen its position in global markets, the Indian Ferro Alloy Producers' Association (IFAPA) said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of the sixth International Ferro Alloys Conference (IFAC 2026) in Goa, IFAPA called for greater security of raw materials, competitive input costs and supportive import policies to enable the industry to meet the requirements of India's growing steel sector.

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The three-day conference, being held from September 16 to 18 under the theme "Fueling India's Steel Surge: The Rising Importance of Ferro Alloys", has brought together industry leaders, producers, traders and policymakers to discuss issues including manganese security, steel and alloy demand, global trade, energy efficiency and critical minerals.

More than 700 participants and over 35 speakers are taking part in the conference, according to IFAPA.

The discussions are also focusing on ferro-chrome, ferro-silicon, technological developments and ways to improve the competitiveness of the sector. IFAPA Chairman Manish Sarda said securing indigenous sources of critical raw materials should be a priority for Indian ferro-alloy producers seeking to become globally competitive.

"Securing indigenous sources of critical raw materials must be a priority for Indian ferro-alloy producers to become globally competitive and support the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Sarda said.

He called for faster exploration and development of domestic manganese, chrome and other critical minerals, saying several manganese ore mines auctioned at high premiums remained non-operational because their economics were often unviable.

"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," he said.

Sarda said commercially viable access to domestic mineral resources would be critical to reducing import dependence and building a stronger ferro-alloys industry.

IFAPA also sought measures to improve the competitiveness of input costs as India expands its steelmaking capacity. It called for zero import duties on manganese ore and raw materials required for noble alloys where suitable domestic grades are not available.

The association also sought competitive power costs for energy-intensive ferro-alloy producers and rationalisation of electricity-related charges and levies. India's crude steel production rose to around 168.4 million tonnes in 2025-26, up more than 10 percent year-on-year, while finished steel consumption reached around 164 million tonnes, growing by about 7-8 percent, according to government data.

Ferro alloys, which combine iron with elements such as manganese, chromium and silicon, are used to improve the strength, hardness and other properties of steel. They are therefore critical inputs for steel used in infrastructure, automobiles, railways, defence and specialised applications.

The growing domestic steel market is already reflected in higher production of ferro-alloys.

According to data cited by IFAPA, silico-manganese production rose from around 1.9 million tonnes in 2019-20 to nearly 3.5 million tonnes in 2025-26, while ferro-manganese production increased from around 0.9 million tonnes to about 1.7 million tonnes during the period.

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IFAPA said India's established export base, coupled with rising domestic demand, provides an opportunity for Indian producers to expand their presence in global supply chains. Raw-material security, however, remains a key concern for the industry, with manganese ore imports rising amid increasing domestic demand.

The association also highlighted the need for the sector to adopt cleaner energy, energy-efficient furnaces, automation and better utilisation of raw materials to reduce costs and emissions and remain competitive as global environmental requirements become more stringent.

IFAC 2026 is being held in Goa, which has a longstanding association with mining, mineral trade and port infrastructure.

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