Editor's Note

Dear Readers,

The July newsletter of Iron & Steel Review offers an exclusive interview with Dr. Gerald Wimmer, Vice President of Converter Steelmaking at Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH. In this conversation, Dr. Wimmer shares valuable insights into the evolving landscape of converter steelmaking and the future of steel production. Meanwhile, the outlook for the Indian steel sector is bright, driven by rising domestic and global demand, coupled with strategic capacity expansions. The newsletter includes a concise overview of market trends.

Focusing on the domestic scene, SMEL has reported impressive results for Q1 FY’27, showcasing significant growth across revenue, EBITDA, and overall profitability, thanks to ongoing efficiency improvements. On the global stage, Primetals Technologies has secured a major revamp order for a CSP mill from WISCO, further solidifying its position in the market.

For the latest updates and insights into the steel industry, be sure to check out the July newsletter.

Santosh Mahanti, Editor & CMD

CONTENTS

Transforming Steel Production: Insights from Dr. Gerald Wimmer on Sustainable Practices and Future Trends in Converter Steelmaking

Primetals Technologies’ converter steelmaking division stands out for its comprehensive approach, rooted in a wealth of global project experience.

In the July issue of Iron & Steel Review, readers can find an exclusive interview with Dr. Gerald Wimmer, Vice President of Converter Steelmaking at Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Wimmer shares his vision for the future of steel production and highlights how Primetals Technologies is at the forefront of innovative and sustainable practices in converter steelmaking. Below, we present some key takeaways from the interview.

Thank you for joining us, Dr. Wimmer. Let’s jump right in — what trends do you foresee shaping the future of converter steelmaking? How are technological advancements influencing these trends?

Thank you for having me. From Primetals’ perspective, we identify two key trends. First, global steel production is not growing as much anymore. We are witnessing a saturated market, with some notable exceptions, particularly in developing countries like India, where we still observe significant growth in crude steel production. This leads us to our first trend: in economies that are still developing, there is a clear opportunity and need for new capacities to be installed. New plants can be constructed with state-of-the-art technology, which is much more feasible than upgrading older facilities in mature markets.

That’s an interesting point. What about the second trend you mentioned?

The second prominent trend is the green transition, particularly in relation to CO2 emissions. The iron and steel industry is among the major industrial emitters of CO2, so reducing these emissions is crucial for addressing global climate challenges. It is essential to balance this with the reality that steel itself is a sustainable material needed for modern life and future development. Our challenge — and opportunity — is to produce steel in a greener way. Here, converter steelmaking also plays an important role. For instance, increasing the scrap rate in BOF converters is an easy and effective strategy for reducing CO2 emissions in crude steel production.

The Indian government aims for at least 25% of steel production to be green steel. How is Primetals contributing to this goal?

Primetals is actively engaged in this initiative. Our approach encompasses a broad range of solutions. Initially, we focus on optimising existing integrated routes — there are many steel plants currently in operation and additional ones under construction. By enhancing these existing operations with solutions we have developed, such as SIP (Sequence Impulse Process) and hydrogen injection in blast furnaces, we can significantly reduce CO2 emissions in iron production right now. Raising the scrap rate in BOF converters and improving heat recovery are also effective measures that are ready for implementation.

The next essential step is electrification. The steel industry is highly energy-intensive and traditionally relies on fossil fuels such as coal. Transitioning to electrical energy, particularly CO2-neutral options like green electricity or nuclear power, can lead to substantial reductions in CO2 emissions. The final piece of our strategy focuses on carbon direct avoidance — exploring alternative reduction agents, such as natural gas in the transition phase and future deployment of green hydrogen for direct reduction.

India’s Steel Industry Continues Strong Growth in Q1 FY’27

The Indian steel sector has demonstrated robust growth in the first quarter (Q1) of FY’27, driven by increased production, rising domestic consumption, and ongoing capacity expansion initiatives. 

During Q1 FY’27, crude steel production reached 42.06 Million Tonnes (MT), marking a 3.0% increase compared to the same period last year. Similarly, finished steel production rose to 40.99 MT, reflecting a notable 5.9% growth year-on-year. The demand for finished steel also surged, with consumption reaching 41.57 MT, a rise of 8.3% from the year-ago period.

In a positive trend for trade, June 2026 saw India’s steel exports climb to 0.62 MT, up from 0.51 MT in May 2026. However, imports of finished steel also increased slightly to 0.70 MT in June, up from 0.69 MT in the previous month. During the April-June 2026 period, India has emerged as a net importer of steel, with imports exceeding exports by 0.47 MT.

Domestic Crude Steel Output Surges by 2.9% in May 2026

The Indian steel industry demonstrated robust growth in May 2026, achieving significant gains in key production and consumption indicators compared to the same period last year.

Crude steel production soared to 14.21 Million Tonnes (MT), reflecting a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 2.9%. Hot metal production also saw a positive shift in May 2026, with a 2.0% YoY rise, while pig iron output reached 0.77 MT, marking an uptick of 1.1% YoY. Notably, finished steel production climbed to 13.94 MT in May 2026, marking a YoY growth of 7.7%, while finished steel consumption for the same month hit 14.33 MT, an increase of 9.0% over the corresponding period last year.

On the trade front, imports for May 2026 totalled 0.69 MT, while exports reached 0.51 MT. This signifies remarkable YoY growth of 62.5% and 29.9% from the May 2025 figures of 0.42 MT and 0.39 MT, respectively.

Pomini Tenova and Siemens Deepen Collaboration to Deliver Advanced Roll Grinder Revamping Solutions

Pomini Tenova, a brand of Tenova and a global leader in roll shop equipment and services, has strengthened its long-standing partnership with Siemens to deliver revamping and modernisation solutions for roll grinders.

The initiative builds on more than four decades of joint projects and nearly 1,000 Pomini Tenova machines equipped with Siemens technologies. The partnership enters its next phase with the aim of elevating technological excellence in the rolling mill sector to new levels of performance, reliability, and digitalisation. Benefits for mutual customers include extended machine lifecycles, safeguarding existing investments, and enhanced overall operational efficiency.

The alliance is set to combine Pomini Tenova’s deep process know-how and proven technologies in roll grinding, inspection, roll shop automation and digital solutions with Siemens’ advanced CNC-based control systems as well as drive and automation technology. This interaction also contributes to integrated safety and future-proof cybersecurity solutions for machine tools.

A key focus of the partnership is enabling the transition toward fully autonomous machines. The integration of Pomini Tenova’s mechanical upgrades and process-specific technologies with Siemens’ advanced technologies lays the foundation for fully autonomous operation through digital monitoring, diagnostic tools, predictive maintenance, and leveraging Industrial AI-based features. These revamping solutions are designed to deliver increased productivity, reduced downtime, and improved safety standards, while maximising performance and ensuring high grinding quality throughout the machine’s operating life.

Paolo Gaboardi, EVP Pomini Tenova, said the enhanced partnership will enable customers to move beyond mere equipment upgrades towards AI-powered autonomous operations and strengthen long-term competitiveness.

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