India has become the second-largest steel producer of crude steel by replacing Japan. "As per World Steel Association data, India became the second-largest steel producer of crude steel after China in 2018 and 2019, by replacing Japan," the Union Minister of Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on February 5.

The details of five leading crude steel producers in the world during 2018 and 2019 are listed below:-

India’s crude steel production in 2018 was at 109.3 MT, an increase of 7.7 per cent from 101.5 MT in 2017.

"Steel being a deregulated sector, the Government does not set any annual targets for steel production. Decision on quantity of steel production is taken by individual companies based on commercial considerations and market requirements," the Union Minister of Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Rajya Sabha.