India’s leading public-sector steel companies-SAIL, NMDC, and MECON-are set to open strategic offices in Dubai by the end of June, a move aimed at securing critical raw material supplies and expanding into global markets. Positioned as a vital hub for African and Gulf trade, Dubai offers proximity to key mineral-rich regions including Gabon, Brazil, Argentina, and Oman, home to abundant reserves of coking coal, manganese, limestone, and other essential inputs.
Despite India’s robust domestic iron-ore output, the nation still imports approximately 9.5 MT of steel annually-largely due to cheaper Chinese imports and supply constraints in other required minerals. Establishing a presence in Dubai enables these PSUs to scout and secure alternate sources, potentially from new overseas mines, thereby bolstering India’s supply resilience.
This initiative aligns with the government’s ambitious goal under the National Steel Policy 2017: achieving a crude steel output of 300 Mt by 2030, supported by a U.S.-$50 billion capacity expansion to nearly 400 Mt. In addition to these three PSUs, MOIL is expected to inaugurate its own Dubai office soon, focusing on manganese opportunities in Gabon and beyond.
While this strategy addresses resource procurement, it also positions India’s steel sector to tap into new global markets. Dubai’s status as a trading nexus enables easier linkages with consuming nations and increased visibility for “Made in India” steel-especially as export pressures mount under EU carbon regulations and global green manufacturing standards.
By leveraging these overseas outposts, India’s steel PSUs aim to transform supply chains and accelerate growth. The move is a clear signal of India’s intent to strengthen industrial core capacities and achieve global competitiveness on its journey to becoming a 300 Mt steel-producing powerhouse by 2030.
