Steel companies are mulling an increase in prices up to Rs 2,000 a tonne in February, which would be the fourth increase in a row
Next two-three months to test if domestic steel price hikes are sustainable
Iron ore supply growth woul be primarily driven by India, Brazil where major miner Vale is set to expand output with its new mine
Almost all leading integrated steel makers and secondary producers have intensified iron ore sourcing to avert raw material crunch and ensure uninterrupted plant operations
Analysts see commodity prices looking up and say looking forward to a pick-up in consumption
A steel producer said lower prices would hopefully support the auto sector
The outlook revision reflects view that Tata Steel will deleverage slower than earlier expectations as the outlook for steel prices weakened materially over the last three quarters
Some industry players, however, warn that price recovery is supply-led and not demand
Profitability may remain subdued in December quarter, even as some benefit accrues on account of softness in raw material prices
The second of a four-part series on IBC takes a look at how Vedanta restored faith of suppliers and customers and updated products to turn around the stressed plant
A report from Edelweiss Research suggests 20-25% decline in the prices of hot rolled coil (HRC) and steel raw materials
Price decline attributed to weak domestic demand; fall in China export prices poses challenge to Indian steel exports
Lower steel prices have helped improve margins while govt's focus on infra development for water, oil and gas has brought a surge in orders for the manufacturers
Price outlook for steel making raw materials are also on the decline
In the long term, Fitch Solutions maintains its view that prices will ease and embark on a multi-year declining track
Producers have raised product rates by Rs 1,750 per tonne in February
Naveen Jindal-led Jindal Steel & Power, Tata Steel, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd and Steel Authority of India (SAIL) are among the other primary steel producers in the country
In November, steel producers had tried to increase flat steel prices by Rs 1,000-1,500 a tonne but could not pass it
The pile-up of iron ore in Karnataka has forced mining companies to reduce price in the state
South Korea's Posco reported earnings on Wednesday that suggest global steel companies are due another round of bumper profits