KOCHI: Though India is the second largest producer of steel, its per capita consumption is below the global average. Higher steel consumption will provide more job opportunities for welders in the country, said Jose P Philip, chairman of Indian Institute of Welding (IIW).

“Almost 90% of the steel consumed in the country through welding process,” he said. While India’s per capita consumption is 58 kg, the global average is 256 kg. However, India’s steel production of 130 million tonnes is second only to China which has a steel output of 803 million tonnes.

“But the production cost is higher in India and Chinese are dumping steel in India,” Philip said. More steel consumption will be benficial for the welding industry. Welding technology has undergone rapid changes over the years and robot welding is getting popular now. “Robots help cut cost as it can work for 24 hours,” he said.

IIW with 200 industry members and over 4000 professionals, is holding its three day national seminar in Kerala for the first time from December 13 in Kochi. The theme will be new developments in the welding industry. Philip said 350 delegates will participate and there will be 90 presentations.