Metals and alloys can be categorized into ferrous and non-ferrous metals or alloys. A metal or alloy containing iron content is classified as ferrous metal and if absent of iron, it is non-ferrous. Carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, tool steels, cast iron, cast steel, managing steel, and specialty or proprietary iron-based alloys are ferrous alloys. Non-ferrous metals are aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, tin, titanium, and zinc, as well as copper alloys like brass and bronze. Gold, silver, selenium, mercury, and tungsten are a few precious non-ferrous metals.
Iron and steel products come in the forms of liquid steel, crude steel, finished steel, ingots, flat, semis, and non-flat. According to the World Steel Association, India is currently the second-largest producer of crude steel, producing 9.2 million metric tonnes in May 2021. The production of crude steel and finished steel stood at 98.39 and 92.82 million metric tonnes respectively financial year 2022 (FY22) (till January 2022). Consumption of finished steel is 93.43 million metric tonnes in FY21. The Indian Steel industry is classified into three categories, which are major, main, and secondary producers. The major producers account for 20% and the main producers had a combined production capacity of around 50% of India’s total steel production. Non-ferrous metals find application in industrial and infrastructural uses like automotive, defense, rail, power, real estate, etc. Indian demand for non-ferrous metals is growing and the supply of downstream goods such as copper wire and aluminum foils is still dominated by imports. India does not have a large production capacity for non-ferrous metals. Copper is mined from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand while bauxite, is mined from Orissa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. Comparatively, India’s demand for non-ferrous metal by-products could not be met by the country's production due to an underdeveloped downstream industry.
Top ten list of Indian metal and alloys manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters
Based on the gross production, plant capacity, and market value, the top ten Indian metal and alloys manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters are briefly discussed henceforth.
Tata Steel Limited:
Tata Steel Limited, based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand is an Indian multinational private steel- production company that is a part of the Tata Group. Its headquarter is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO), it is one of the few operators that are fully integrated into the mining, manufacturing, and marketing of finished goods. Raw materials operation is spread across India and Canada. Tata Steel manufacturing facilities are present in Netherlands and United Kingdom. Downstream operation facilities are located in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, Turkey, Singapore, Thailand, and India. At more than 30 million tonnes per annum (MnTPA) crude steel capacity, it is one of the top and most geographically diversified steel producers in the world. the crude steel capacity across India operates at 20 MnTPA and is the largest in Europe, standing at 12.4 MnTPA. The company’s top facility in Singapore is one of the world’s largest single downstream rebar fabrication using only recycled scrap. During the financial year 2021, the total turnover of Tata Steel Limited was about 1.6 trillion Indian rupees.
JSW Steel Limited:
JSW Steel Limited, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra is an Indian multinational private steel- production company that is part of the JSW Group. The company started when the Jindal Group acquired Piramal Steel Limited in 1982, renaming it Jindal Iron and Steel Company (JISCO), and in 2005 merged with ISPAT Steel to become India’s second-largest private sector steel company. JSW Steel Limited is a fully integrated operator, procuring raw materials till marketing the finished goods. There are 13 iron ore mines with 14 manufacturing facilities, producing 28 MnTPA in FY21. In August 2021, it announced investment plans of US$ 2.4 billion to increase the production capacity in the next six years. The total turnover of the company in the financial year 2021 was Rs. 71396 crores.
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Hindalco Industries:
Hindalco operates an aluminum and copper division for metal and alloy production. Its aluminum production is the largest integrated primary producer in Asia. The integrated operation encompasses bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting to downstream rolling, extraction, and recycling. The company possesses bauxite mines of 15 million metric tonnes, a refineries capacity of about 1.2 million tonnes in FY15, and a smelting capacity of 4,10,000 TPA. Hindalco’s copper division, Birla Copper operates the world’s largest single-location custom copper smelters. It also produces LME-grade copper cathodes, continuous cast copper rods in various sizes, and precious metals like gold and silver. Hindalco is one of the major manufacturers of the 19.6 mm diameter copper rods that are used for railway electrification. Birla Copper brands, Birla Copper and Birla Copper II are recognized domestically and worldwide for their high purity. The total turnover of the company in the financial year 2021 was Rs. 42701 crores.
Steel Authority of India (SAIL):
Incorporated in 1973, SAIL is a Maharatna steel producer based in New Delhi. It is the 20th largest steel producer in the world and the largest in the country with an annual production of 21 MnTPA in FY21. SAIL produces iron and steel at five integrated plants and three special steel plants located in the eastern and central part of India, in proximity to sources of raw materials. The total turnover of the company in the financial year 2021 was Rs. 68,452 Crore.
National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC):
Incorporated in 1958, NMDC, a Navratna enterprise, is India’s largest producer of iron ore. It owns and operates iron ores mining in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. Its registered office is in Hyderabad, Telangana. The company produces about 35 MnTPA from one of its major mines in Chhattisgarh. NDMC also operates the only mechanized diamond mine in India at Panna, Madhya Pradesh. The total turnover of the company in the financial year 2021 was Rs 3,494.21 crore.
Coal India Limited (CIL):
Incorporated in 1975, CIL, headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, is a Maharatna coal mining and refining corporation, under the ownership of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India. It is India’s largest coal producer. The company contributes more than 80% of the country’s total coal production. Through its 352 mines spanning eight states, CIL produced 595.2 million tonnes of coal in FY21 and recorded a 4.4% annual growth in FY22. The total turnover of the company in the financial year 2021 was Rs 640.25 crores.
Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL):
HZL, a Vedanta Group company is one of the largest and India’s only integrated producers of Zinc-Lead and Silver. In proximity to Zinc-Lead mines, its headquarter is located in Udaipur, Rajasthan. HZL operates the world’s largest zinc mine and the world’s third-largest open-pit mine in Rampura Agucha, Rajasthan. Total mined metal in FY22 reached 1.017 million tonnes. The total turnover of the company in FY21 was Rs 24209 crores.
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Essar Steel India Limited:
ESIL is the main subsidiary of Essar Steel and has a fully integrated operation with a total production capacity of 10 MnTPA. ESIL operates the world’s fourth-largest single-location flat steel mill in Hazira, Gujarat. The total turnover of the company in FY21 was Rs 175.89 crores.
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO):
Incorporated in 1981, NALCO is a Navratna Public Sector Enterprise, dealing with integrated and diversified operations in mining and metal products. It is one of the country’s largest integrated bauxite-alumina-aluminum-power complexes. As a step in the green movement, NALCO installed 198 MW of wind power plants, 1200MW of the captive thermal power plants, and 800 kWp rooftop solar power plants. Despite the pandemic, NALCO has posted a net profit of Rs. 1299.56 crore and a net turnover of Rs. 8869.29 crores. The present capacity of alumina refinery is 22.75 lakh TPA, aluminium smelter is 4.60 lakh TPA and bauxite mining at 68.25 lakh TPA.
Vedanta Limited:
Vedanta Limited is a multinational mining company mainly operating in iron ore, gold, and aluminum mining in Odisha, Karnataka, Goa, and Rajasthan. Its headquarter is in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and operates the country’s largest copper smelter in Tuticorin. Zinc-led business is owned by its subsidiary company, HZL. Vedanta Limited shares 40% of the market share in India’s aluminum industry with the largest production capacity of 2.3 MnTPA. Iron ore production stood at 5.6 MnTPA. Vedanta Limited has posted a total turnover of Rs. 71624 crores.
Conclusion
Metals and alloys are classified into ferrous and non-ferrous types. Ferrous metals and alloys are the most indigenously produced materials where they contribute massively to the supply and demand economy. Whereas, non-ferrous metals production does not meet the downstream demand due to an underdeveloped industry. It is observed, that there are both private and government-owned enterprises among the top metal and alloy industries in the country.
FAQs: Metals & Alloys
Q. In which forms do Iron and steel products come?
Ans. Iron and steel products come in the forms of liquid steel, crude steel, finished steel, ingots, flat, semis, and non-flat.
Q. Where are the Tata Steel manufacturing facilities present?
Ans. Tata Steel manufacturing facilities are present in Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Q. How many types of public enterprises are owned by the Government of India (GOI)?
Ans. There are three Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), viz., Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna.
Q. What is the difference between Maharatna and Navratna?
Ans. Maharatna companies can make foreign investments up to Rs. 5000 crores without seeking government approval while it is limited to Rs. 1000 crore for Navratna companies.
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