4th International Ferro Alloys Conference Highlights Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Ferroalloys Industry

New Delhi: The Indian Ferroalloys & Producers’ Association (IFAPA) successfully hosted the 4th International Ferro Alloys Conference, drawing significant participation from the industry. The event, which took place in New Delhi, featured 10 insightful sessions with contributions from over 30 speakers and was attended by 550 delegates. The conference was honored by the presence of Chief Guest Shri HD Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, Government of India.

In his inaugural address, Minister Kumaraswamy underscored the critical role of ferro alloys in the Indian steel industry. “Ferro alloys are essential to our steel industry, significantly contributing to domestic consumption and foreign exchange earnings,” he noted. However, he acknowledged the sector’s current challenges, including high power tariffs, limited domestic ore supply, and constraints in the availability of quality coke. The minister assured that the Steel Ministry is committed to addressing these issues and supporting the ferro alloys sector.

Manish Sarda, Chairman of IFAPA, highlighted India’s global standing in the ferroalloys market. “India is the largest exporter of manganese alloys and the third-largest exporter of ferrochrome. Despite this, our global standing and foreign exchange potential are hindered by high domestic power prices and tariffs on key imports,” he stated. Sarda advocated for the removal of the 2.5% basic customs duty on manganese ore imports due to the low availability of high-grade ore in India. He expressed optimism that the Steel Ministry will assist the industry in overcoming these obstacles.

A.K. Saxena, CMD of Manganese Ore India Ltd. (MOIL), addressed the issue of raw material self-reliance. “MOIL’s production constitutes over 50% of domestic output, but our consumption is much lower. We are significantly increasing our mining capacity to enhance domestic raw material self-sufficiency,” Saxena explained.

The conference also provided key statistics on the industry’s performance. In FY’24, India’s production of manganese alloys (ferro and silico manganese) reached 3.5 million metric tons (mnt), with exports totaling 1.8 mnt. Chrome alloys production was 1.5 mnt, with 0.75 mmt exported. The total ferroalloys production was 5.2 mnt, with exports accounting for 2.6 mnt.

Established in 1961, IFAPA serves as the apex body of the domestic ferroalloys industry, bridging the gap between the industry and policymakers. The conference, supported by BigMint as the Knowledge and Media Partner, featured a range of technical sessions on steel and stainless steel, ore and alloys, power, coke and technology, and the decarbonization of the ferroalloys sector in India.