India’s ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel Limited (AMNS) plans to commission two automotive grade steel production lines at its mill at Hazira, Gujarat in 2025 aiming to reduce the import dependency of local automobile manufacturers, a company official said on Monday, January 20.
The auto grade steel making facilities would include a continuous galvanizing line and a continuous galvanizing and annealing line, both to commence production this year, the official said.
The news lines will incorporate technology from parent companies - ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel - and will produce steel with strength levels up to 1180 MPa in both coated and uncoated variants. The facilities will be part of the company's new Cold Rolling Mill (CRM) 2 complex.
“The expansion will enable domestic production of globally recognized steel products while increasing the company's market share in India's automotive sector,” AMNS CEO Dilip Oommen said in a statement.
India's automotive steel demand currently stands at 7.8 million mt per year and is projected to grow by six to seven percent a year. The sector has traditionally relied on imports for specific high-end steel grades used in automotive manufacturing.