India exported 52% less finished steel from April to February than it did a year earlier, as slowing global demand hit shipments, according to government data seen by Reuters on Thursday.
The export volume was lower, at 5.9 million tonnes, despite the Government's withdrawal of an export tax in November.
India, the world's second-biggest producer of crude steel, also imports the alloy. In the April-February period, it was a net exporter.
Also read: Indian steel mills hike price by ₹2,000 a tonne
Major steelmakers reported a drop in profits in the December quarter, in part because the Government in May imposed the tax, which applied to exports of some intermediate steel products, such as bars.
Most steel companies, including JSW Steel Ltd, India's biggest steelmaker by capacity, have projected a pick-up in exports in the current quarter.
Also read: JSW Steel USA signs pact with TrueNorth Collective for Environmental Product Declarations
Between April and February, India produced 109.35 million tonnes of finished steel, 6.2% more than a year before, the data showed. Consumption rose by 11.6% to 107.2 million tonnes.
India imported 5.6 million tonnes of finished steel during the period, up 29.5% from a year earlier. Crude steel production was up 3.9%, at 113.44 million tonnes.
Also read: Steel imports from Russia rise 5 times in April-Jan