India reaches ship recycling milestone ahead of 2030 target
India has strengthened its position in the global ship recycling landscape, emerging as the world's leading recycling nation in 2025.
The achievement reflects sustained policy support, yard modernisation efforts, and greater alignment with international recycling standards, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said.
India's steel industry is entering a phase of significant capacity expansion, with steelmaking capacity projected to increase from 230 mnt in FY26 to 298 mt by FY30, an addition of nearly 68 mnt.
This expansion is being driven by ongoing investments from major steel producers and the government's long-term vision of achieving 300 mnt of steelmaking capacity by 2030.
The government of India has extended the anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imports from China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia until 15 December 2026, providing continued protection to domestic manufacturers while an ongoing review of the measure is completed.
Mapping Indian cement industry's sustainability parameters and the road ahead-BigMint report
The Indian cement industry is growing at a phenomenal pace, and production has increased sharply by 50% since FY'20.
India produced around 492 mnt of cement in FY'26 and the total installed capacity has exceeded 700 mnt.
With GDP growth at around 7%, rapid urbanisation, housing, and infrastructure development will push cement consumption many notches higher in the coming decades.
Cheaper Oil Is Changing Global Shipping | BigMint Updates
Brent crude oil fell below $80 per barrel on June 17, 2026, reaching a three-month low as markets reacted to signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran.
Hopes of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy trade routes, have improved expectations for global oil supply. According to Iranian state media, Iranian oil tankers have already resumed shipping.
#BigMintUpdates #brentcrude #straitofhormuz #oilprices #globalshipping
Japan's ferrous scrap exports declined 10% y-o-y to 1.6 mnt in Q1CY'26 from 1.8 mnt in the corresponding period last year, according to data compiled by BigMint.
While scrap generation declined, demand from traditional importers such as Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, and India weakened as export prices remained high.
India's tier-1 steelmakers reported mixed growth in crude steel production in FY'26 even as sales increased y-o-y.
Among these steelmakers, which account for roughly half of India's crude steel output, only Jindal Steel recorded production growth above India's overall 11% increase in crude steel output.
Global zinc prices rallied sharply on 14 May 2026, climbing to their highest level since August 2022 after fresh disruptions at major smelters in Peru and Kazakhstan intensified concerns over tightening refined zinc supply.
Miner and trading giant Glencore Plc is currently offering a deep-sea cargo from the European Union for June shipment to Turkiye, according to market participants, signalling what many market participants see as a much larger structural shift unfolding across the global steel and metallics market.
When wars, tariffs, and geopolitics can move metal markets overnight…
how should India prepare for what comes next?
At BigMint India Non-Ferrous Week 2026, hear directly from Ambassador Shyam Saran- Former Foreign Secretary of India, Chief Climate Negotiator and Padma Bhushan Awardee - as he shares perspectives on global trade shifts, market outlooks and the signals shaping the next decade.
Join the conversations shaping the future of metals.
Explore More: https://t.co/uQby2M7z1p
Register Now: https://t.co/5kMbUpO3GV
India-bound scrap container freight rates firm on tight supply, longer transit times
Container freight market for ferrous scrap imports into India remains firm overall, supported by extended transit times, reliance on transshipment services, and tight availability of heavy 20-ft containers amid ongoing Red Sea rerouting disruptions and continued logistical inefficiencies across global trade lanes.
India's aluminium scrap imports declined by 16% y-o-y to 0.35 mnt in Q1CY'26, down from 0.42 mnt in the corresponding period last year.
The country remains heavily dependent on imports, with nearly 85% of its aluminium scrap requirement sourced from overseas.
As a result, the decline in arrivals has had a direct impact on domestic secondary producers, who rely on a consistent inflow of scrap to sustain production.
Chinese hot-rolled coil (HRC) and rebar prices recorded varying price movements in April 2026.
Tangshan HRC prices increased marginally m-o-m to RMB 3,392/t ($498/t), while rebar prices rose to RMB 3,172/t ($466/t) from RMB 3,125/t ($463/t) in March.
The movement reflects improving construction activity supporting rebar, while HRC remained supported as demand absorbed available supply.
Prices continue to sit near multi-year lows, indicating stabilisation rather than recovery.
Aluminium & Copper Scrap Trade Disrupted Amid West Asia Conflict | ET Now Swadesh
Mr Jayprakash Sahu, GM – Prices & Index, BigMint, in conversation with @ETNowSwadesh highlighted that ongoing geopolitical tensions are disrupting aluminium and copper scrap trade flows, with delays in shipments and tighter domestic availability.
With reduced scrap inflows and steady demand, domestic non-ferrous scrap prices are holding firm despite global corrections. Aluminium markets remain relatively stronger, while copper may see volatility amid higher inventories.
🇦🇪 UAE: Iranian drone strike hits GCC's largest aluminium facility, threatening 8% of global supply
> EGA's largest smelter hit; output and logistics under pressure
> LME likely to remain volatile amid rising supply concerns
EGA’s Al Taweelah complex in Abu Dhabi, its largest production site, includes both a smelter and an alumina refinery. The facility produced around 1.6 mnt of aluminium and 2.4 mnt of alumina in 2025.
Will supply risks from EGA disruption keep aluminium markets on edge? https://t.co/TQxYF1wzCB
#AluminiumMarket #GlobalSupplyChain #CommodityMarkets #Geopolitics #MetalIndustry
India mandates BIS certification for aluminium products under new quality control order
- Phased compliance timeline introduced for MSMEs
- Order aims to strengthen manufacturing quality ecosystem
East Asian bulk scrap buying improves ahead of Feb'26 polls
▪️Five bulk deals signal demand pickup after a cautious start to Jan'26
▪️Bangladesh's return to the Kanto tender reinforces buyer confidence
▪️Scrap imports rise 3% y-o-y in 2025 as bulk share climbs to 74%
Read more:
https://t.co/kip9TmuNBO
Union Budget raises TCS on scrap sales to 2%, tightening liquidity but pushing formalisation
India's Union Budget 2026 has proposed raising the tax collected at source (TCS) on scrap sales to 2% from 1%.
While the higher levy does not increase the effective tax burden as TCS remains adjustable against final income tax liability - it materially raises upfront cash outflows, particularly for working-capital-intensive segments.
Read more:
https://t.co/e4ivzAAg01
#UnionBudget2026 #bigmintupdate #commoditymarket
India Exempts 14 Copper Products from QCO – 1‑Year Relief for Critical Industries | BigMint Updates
India has granted a one‑year QCO exemption on 14 specialised copper products after requests from manufacturers facing supply and quality gaps.
The copper products list covers oxygen‑free copper, silver/zirconium/phosphor copper, beryllium alloy bars and 11 other products.