Archive · 16 Jan 2026
CCI Accuses 28 Steel Producers of Price Collusion
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has accused 28 steel companies of working together to control prices and reduce production.
This is a big deal because steel is important for many industries.
The government has been protecting steel companies with rules that make it hard for cheaper steel to be imported from other countries.
Some people think this protection is good because it helps Indian companies grow, but others worry it might stop competition and innovation.
The CCI is investigating to see if the steel companies really did work together to control prices.
If they did, they could face penalties.
Some people are worried that prices might drop, but others think the industry is strong enough to handle it.
China is exporting a lot of steel, but it's not expected to hurt India's steel industry much.
The CCI has accused 28 steel producers of price collusion and output cuts.
The investigation covers the period from 2015 to 2023.
The government has implemented quality control orders (QCOs) and safeguard duties to protect the domestic steel industry.
The CCI inquiry aims to assess the economic impact of potential price manipulation.
Industry analysts estimate operating margins for FY26 to be over 12%, indicating a stable industry.
- Who
- 28 steel producers, including private and public sector companies
- What
- Accusations of price collusion and output cuts
- When
- Investigation period: 2015-2023
- Where
- India
- Why
- To determine if price manipulation occurred and to assess its economic impact
- Number of Accused Entities
- 28
- Period Under Investigation
- 2015-2023
- Current Safeguard Duty
- 12% (tapering to 11% over 3 years)
- India's Steel Output
- 150 million tonnes
- Estimated Steel Imports
- 8% of India's output
- China's Steel Exports (2022)
- 70 million tonnes
- China's Projected Steel Exports (2025)
- 120 million tonnes
- Estimated Operating Margins for FY26
- Over 12%