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Editor's Note
Dear Readers,
The January newsletter of Iron & Steel Review highlights a compelling interview with Paul Riches, Vice President - Long Rolling at Primetals Technologies USA LLC. In this conversation, Riches delves into the company’s commitment to continuous innovation, emphasising its strategy to be a top-tier partner in equipment and processes for the long products sector. In addition, the Indian steel industry has demonstrated impressive performance during the first three quarters of the current fiscal year, with the newsletter providing insightful data on this trend.
On the national front, Tata Steel India has achieved remarkable growth in the third quarter of FY’26, setting a record for its highest quarterly crude steel production to date. Internationally, Xiangtan Iron and Steel has turned to Primetals Technologies for a major overhaul of its Multi-Purpose Interrupted Cooling line.
For more details and insights, be sure to check out the latest January newsletter! Santosh Mahanti, Editor & CMD |
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Redefining Long Rolling: 138 Years of Innovation Meets the Asian Steel Boom
Paul Riches, Vice President - Long Rolling at Primetals Technologies USA LLC, brings extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of the long products sector. In an interview featured in the January issue of Iron & Steel Review, he shares insights into the company’s innovative approach, global business strategy, and the key areas of focus that contribute to its success. Edited excerpt:
As the Vice President of Long Rolling for Primetals Technologies, how would you describe the company’s current global business strategy and its core areas of focus?
With over 138 years of continuous innovation, our strategy is centred on being the best-in-class equipment and process partner for the long products sector. Our legacy is deeply rooted in our industry-renowned products, particularly the Morgan No-Twist Mill and Reducing/Sizing Mill (RSM).
Building on this solid foundation, we have been sharpening our focus on India and China to increase our presence and establish long-term partnerships. Our strong manufacturing base in the United States, combined with local manufacturing and spare parts facilities in India, enables us to achieve this goal.
Our strategic focus rests on four pillars: Safety, Productivity, Product Quality, and Aftermarket Support. Whether serving the traditional wire rod market or meeting the evolving demands of the EV sector, our goal is to minimise conversion costs and OPEX while maximising mill utilisation, ensuring we remain the lowest-risk partner for project execution.
Primetals Technologies is recognised as a leading supplier of high-speed process technology and equipment for producers in the long-rolling market. What key innovations or design philosophies give your long-rolling solutions a competitive edge globally?
Our competitive edge is driven by a philosophy of continuous innovation throughout our portfolio, ensuring we remain the industry benchmark for quality, consistency, and productivity.
A prime example of our technological leadership is the advancement of eDrive technology in our Morgan No-Twist® Mill. Utilising individually driven stands, eDrive provides infinite processing flexibility per stand and allows for thermomechanical rolling across a wider range of grades, helping reduce both capital and operational expenditures for bar and wire rod mills.
We have also revolutionised the Morgan Laying Head pipe support arrangement as part of the product’s 6th-generation release. By redesigning the pipe path, we have significantly improved the lifespan of the pipe and reduced maximum stress levels by 70%. These innovations, combined with our robust manufacturing capabilities, give our customers a distinct advantage in reliability and operational efficiency.
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Indian Steel Industry Performance: April-December 2025
In a recent report, the Indian steel industry showcased a promising performance in the first nine months of the current fiscal year. Crude steel production reached 14.147 Million Tonnes (MT), representing a growth of 5.4% compared to December 2024, and 3.2% compared to the previous month, i.e. November 2025.
Pig iron production saw a slight decline, at 0.690 MT, down by 0.6% from December 2024, yet it experienced a positive growth of 3.1% from November 2025. Meanwhile, hot metal production increased significantly to 8.345 MT, marking a growth of 3.8% from December 2024 and 5.6% from November 2025.
Finished steel production also displayed steady growth, totalling 13.072 MT — a 2.0% increase compared to December 2024, although it saw only a marginal rise of 0.1% from November 2025. Import of finished steel dropped significantly, totalling 0.459 MT, down by 45.5% year-on-year but up by 18.6% from the prior month. Conversely, finished steel exports stood at 0.616 MT, showing a substantial growth of 38.1% from December 2024, despite a decline of 16.0% from November 2025.
In terms of consumption, finished steel consumption reached 14.253 MT, reflecting a 3.4% growth compared to December 2024 and a notable 10.4% increase from November 2025. Notably, India emerged as a net exporter of finished steel in December 2025, highlighting a positive trend in the steel sector. |
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Tata Steel Achieves Record Production in Q3 FY’26
Tata Steel India showcased remarkable growth in the third quarter (Q3) of FY’26, recording its highest-ever quarterly crude steel production at 6.34 Million Tonnes (MT). This achievement marks a 12% increase compared to both the previous quarter (QoQ) and the same period last year, driven by higher output from the Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar facilities. Over the first nine months of FY’26, production rose by 6% YoY, reaching approximately 17.2 MT.
This surge in production also translated into ‘best-ever quarterly’ deliveries, with Tata Steel India surpassing the 6 MT threshold for the first time. Deliveries increased by 9% from the previous quarter and 14% YoY, a testament to the robust demand in the domestic market. For the nine-month period of FY’26, deliveries saw a similar 6% YoY growth, totalling around 16.3 MT.
The ‘Automotive & Special Products’ segment achieved the ‘best-ever’ results, reaching volumes of approximately 0.9 MT. In the third quarter, volumes surged by 20% YoY, bolstered by swift approvals from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for hi-tensile grades from the Kalinganagar facility and speciality steel from the combi-mill at Jamshedpur. This segment experienced a 5% YoY volume increase over the first nine months of FY’26.
The ‘Branded Products & Retail’ vertical surpassed the 2 MT mark for the first time, with quarterly volumes climbing 12% YoY.
The ‘Industrial Products & Projects’ vertical reported volumes of around 1.9 MT, supported by strong performance in value-added segments such as Engineering. This segment achieved its ‘best-ever’ nine-month volumes, boosted by critical international certifications for discerning sub-segments such as oil & gas and shipbuilding.
Throughout the quarter, Tata Steel India continued to focus on value-added growth and expanding its downstream portfolio. The Tubes and Tinplate segments experienced double-digit YoY growth, while the Wires division marked its best-ever quarterly volumes. |
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Primetals Technologies to Upgrade Xiangtan Iron & Steel’s MULPIC Cooling Line
Xiangtan Iron and Steel, China’s leading producer of heavy plates for challenging, intensive applications, has relied on Primetals Technologies for a significant revamp of its Multi-Purpose Interrupted Cooling (MULPIC) line. This upgrade will deliver the improved cooling performance required for new, higher-value alloys and enable greater throughput from Xiangtan’s existing plate mill infrastructure in Hunan Province, China.
The upgrade is designed to enhance flatness and mechanical properties for plates with thicknesses reaching 350 mm. MULPIC’s uniform temperature control along the entire plate length and width is key to achieving these targets.
Primetals Technologies will be responsible for designing, supplying, and commissioning a new-generation spray system, coupled with an extensive overhaul of Level 1 and Level 2 automation to ensure state-of-the-art process control. Together, these measures will yield excellent cooling performance from an established 15-year-old structure, ultimately enabling Xiangtan to deliver higher-value products to its customers.
The project is set to kick off in the second quarter of 2026, with work continuing throughout mid-2026, all under a very short timeline. |
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5TH INDIAN STEEL & 2ND REFRACTORY CONFERENCE
March 12-13, 2026
Next-Generation Refractory Solutions for the
Iron & Steel Industry: Challenges and Emerging Trends
Conference & Exhibition at Vivanta Kolkata EM Bypass
Website: www.isrinfomedia.com |
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