Capacity expansion alone is not enough—distribution strength emerges as the next growth driver

New Delhi: As steel production in India exceeds 160 million tonnes and installed capacity moves closer to 300 million tonnes by 2030, the sector’s growth narrative is evolving. Beyond production expansion, attention is now centering on strengthening India’s dealer and distributor backbone.

With nearly 50 million tonnes of finished steel in FY26 flowing through trade-led channels, dealers and distributors now account for a significant share of market movement. As steel demand is projected to rise steadily in the coming years, industry leaders note that distribution capability, financial resilience, and digital readiness will determine how effectively this growth translates into market reach.

This industry-wide conversation took centre stage at Build Connect 2026, held on February 19–20 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The platform was organised by BigMint, a commodity market intelligence firm, in association with the Akhil Bhartiya Loha Vyapar Sangh (ABLVS) as Supporting Association. The event recorded over 1,500 footfall, including 500+ confirmed participants and 1,000+ registered visitors, representing 400+ companies across 72 cities and 15+ states. Nearly 48% of attendees were senior decision-makers, including Directors, Managing Directors, and business owners.

The platform also saw participation from SAIL as Strategic PSU Partner, alongside institutional and industry support from the AIIFA Sustainable Steel Manufacturers Association, National Institute of Secondary Steel Technology (NISST), Bureau Veritas, and prominent trade and construction organisations including BAI, GISF, CFI, RISTA, and BIMA — reflecting broad alignment across manufacturing, trade bodies, and technical institutions.

The inaugural ceremony featured senior industry figures including Shri V. R. Sharma (Member Advisory Board, Jindal Steel & Power), Shri Bimlendra Jha (Ex-MD, JSP & Ambuja Cements Ltd.), Mr. Anurag Sinha (Executive Director, Engineers India Limited), Mr. Vishesh Shahra (Chairman, Shreeyam Power & Steel Industries Ltd.), Mr. Vivek Adukia (Chairman, SRMA), and Mr. Amit Gupta (President, ABLVS).

Across 12 focused sessions and 40+ expert addresses, discussions spanned infrastructure demand, GST compliance, green steel adoption, supply chain finance, digital transformation, e-commerce integration, quality standards, branding impact, and payment recovery mechanisms. A recurring industry view emerged: expanding production capacity must be complemented by a more structured and financially empowered distribution ecosystem.

The Build Connect Awards 2026 recognised excellence across India’s steel distribution landscape, honouring regional distributor leadership, dealer performance, and technology adoption.

As India’s steel demand moves toward higher consumption levels, industry stakeholders reinforced that sustainable sectoral growth will depend not only on manufacturing scale but on building a stronger, more organised, and next-generation dealer–distributor backbone. Build Connect 2026 reflected that shift in focus — from capacity expansion alone to ecosystem strengthening across the value chain