India’s Steel Story Enters a Defining New Cycle as BigMint India Ferrous Week 2026 Opens in Kolkata

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 22 : India’s steel industry is entering a defining new cycle, shaped by changing global demand, evolving trade flows, raw-material security, freight volatility and the growing influence of technology and artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, BigMint India Ferrous Week 2026, in association with the Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association of India (SRMA) & West Bengal Sponge Iron Manufacturing Association (WBSIMA), commenced today in Kolkata, bringing together key stakeholders from across the ferrous value chain for a three-day industry forum from August 19–21, 2026.

The 2026 edition is bringing together 1,100+ participants, 110+ speakers, 5+ international speakers, 10+ Masterclass speakers including professors from IITs and scientists, 40+ sessions and 50+ exhibitors, reflecting the scale and breadth of the industry gathering.

Built around the theme “The New Steel Cycle: Raw Materials to Steel – Trade & AI,” the forum is connecting steelmakers, miners, coal and scrap players, traders, logistics companies, policymakers and technology providers to examine the shifts defining the sector’s next phase.

The conference comes at a time when India is strengthening its position in the global steel landscape through capacity growth, import substitution and product diversification, while raw-material strategy, freight movements, metallic mix and AI-powered intelligence are becoming increasingly critical to competitiveness and margin management.

West Bengal’s Industrial Growth Takes Centre Stage

The Inaugural Session, themed “West Bengal’s Industrial Growth Agenda: Enabling Investment, Infrastructure, and the Next Phase of Manufacturing-led Development,” brought together senior policymakers and industry representatives, including Tapas Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal; Ajay Kumar Poddar, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Public Works (PWD) and Department of Public Health Engineering (PHE); Umesh Rai, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development; and Arjun Singh, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Labour and Transport, Government of West Bengal.

The session also featured Vivek Adukia, Chairman, Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association of India (SRMA); Shankar Lal Agrawal, President, West Bengal Sponge Iron Manufacturing Association (WBSIMA); and Deepak Agrawal, General Secretary, WBSIMA.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Tapas Roy, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal, said, “West Bengal is committed to enabling investment, manufacturing and sustainable industrial growth. Industry platforms such as BigMint India Ferrous Week strengthen dialogue between policymakers and industry.”

Vivek Adukia, Chairman, Steel Re-Rolling Mills Association of India (SRMA), said, “The steel industry is entering a new phase where raw-material security, technology and efficient decision-making will be critical to competitiveness.”

The event’s leadership line-up also includes Amitabh Kant, Former CEO, NITI Aayog and Ex-G20 Sherpa, who will offer a special perspective on re-globalisation and India’s opportunity amid global trade disruption.

From Steel Growth to AI: Conversations Shaping the New Cycle

Over the three days, the programme will address some of the most consequential questions facing the ferrous sector, including India’s steel growth, iron ore policy and supply, DRI capacity expansion, thermal coal dynamics, coking coal security, ferrous scrap, global trade, shipping and logistics, green steel and decarbonisation.

Technology and artificial intelligence will also take centre stage, with discussions examining AI in scrap sorting, AI-driven decision-making, technology transitions in steel and DRI plants, and the role of intelligent supply chains. The agenda also puts a spotlight on women’s leadership in steel and the changing competitive landscape of the global ferrous industry.

Dhurv Goel, CEO, BigMint, said, “India’s steel story is entering a new cycle, where raw materials, trade and technology will matter as much as capacity. BIFW is our effort to bring the industry together to understand and navigate what comes next.”

Senior industry and policy voices participating in the forum include Rashmi Singh, Director (Commercial), MOIL; Ravi Kumar Moka, Deputy Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Manoj Kumar Agarwal, CMD, Bharat Coking Coal Limited; Dr. Arun Choudhary, Scientist & Deputy Director, MNRE; Pradipta Kumar Mishra, Managing Director, Jindal Power Limited; Purushottam Beriwala, Chairman, Shyam Steel Industries Ltd.; Puneet Arya, President, PMAI; Deependra Kashiva, Director General, Sponge Iron Manufacturers Association; and Stephan Paech, President & CEO, Fives North American Combustion, among others.

BigMint, India’s premier IOSCO-compliant Price Reporting Agency for Commodities, has been conducting conferences like India Ferrous Week since 2014 that converges into a major industry gathering, with participation from stakeholders across 25+ countries. The 2026 edition brings together the 9th India Iron Ore & Pellet Conference, 8th India DRI, Scrap & Steel Conference and 6th India Coal Outlook Conference, while expanding its scope to include logistics, technology and AI.

With high-level plenary sessions, focused industry discussions, market-facing content, technology masterclasses and senior networking opportunities, the three-day forum aims to connect macro market developments with practical business decisions and help stakeholders navigate the opportunities and challenges of the next steel cycle. BigMint India Ferrous Week 2026 is being held from August 19–21, 2026, in Kolkata.