
Mint Explainer | How long will the steel price rally last?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: Steel companies are set to post a strong March quarter (Q4FY26), thanks to firm demand and higher prices after hitting multi-year lows in November 2025. Will this momentum continue in the coming months?Mint breaks down why this rally in prices is expected to decline starting mid-May.Steel prices began rising around mid-December, driven initially by higher coking coal costs, and continued to gain through the quarter.
The uptrend was supported by a mix of domestic and global factors. Extended safeguard measures protected local producers from an influx of cheaper imports, while a slowdown in Chinese exports tightened global supply.Brokerage firm PL Capital expects metal companies to deliver a strong performance.At the same time, an extended monsoon last year reduced the construction window, forcing project execution into a shorter period and triggering a surge in demand.Higher coking coal costs, plant maintenance at key facilities, and limited supply also added upward pressure on prices, said Hemant Dewangan, AGM–Steel Prices & Index, BigMint, a commodity market intelligence firm.
Together, these factors kept steel prices firm during the quarter.Steel prices rebounded sharply from November lows, supported by improving demand and firmer market conditions. With project deadlines approaching in the last quarter, buyers were willing to absorb higher prices to secure material quickly.
Demand from both construction and industrial segments remained strong, allowing mills to pass on cost increases, according to BigMint.Hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices rebounded sharply, rising up to 21% to ₹56,611 per tonne by end-March after hitting a 10-month low in November, according to BigMint data. Rebar
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