What is at stake for India amid Trump's tariff war on steel and aluminium, in six charts
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a flat 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports (likely effective 12 March) has raised fears of a global backlash and trade war. While the tariffs aren't directly targeted at India, they could still pose challenges.
India, among the primary producers of these metals, faces the risk of increased dumping as other nations could divert their exports due to the tariffs. The country is also among the key suppliers of the two metals to the US. A potential shift in market share dynamics is likely due to the move.
India is among the top producers of both metals globally, though China dominates the market by a huge margin. India produced 4,200 tonnes of aluminium in 2024, accounting for 6% of the world’s aluminium smelter production, according to data from the United States Geological Survey. On the other hand, India produced 149.59 million tonnes (mt) of steel, according to the World Steel Association, last year, accounting for 8% of global production.
Nearly a quarter of all steel used in the US is imported. India was the seventh biggest supplier of aluminium to the US between March 2024 and February 2025. It provided nearly 3% of US imports, totalling 0.14 mt, according to the latest data from the International Trade Administration, an agency in the US Department of Commerce.
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