Indian semi-finished product exports, the majority of which were mild steel billet, soared 112% on-year in June to 228,662 tonnes, according to Indian commerce ministry data monitored by Kallanish.

Shipments to Nepal doubled to 106,789t, while the US took in 24,630t versus zero in June 2017 and deliveries to Sri Lanka surged over eight-fold to 23,671t. Indonesia imported 118% more at 22,682t and Italy took in 18,451t versus zero last year. Bangladesh, however, imported zero versus 27,405t last year.

In January-June Indian semis exports thus rose 17% on-year to 1.25 million tonnes.

The biggest market was Nepal with a 32% rise in intake to 546,020t, followed by the Philippines with a 353% surge to 139,642t and Thailand with 30% growth to 132,732t. The US increased intake 38% to 105,401t, but Indonesian intake fell -24% to 93,699t.

Notably, Malaysia and Italy reduced intake -69% and -25% respectively to 21,654t and 38,740t.

Indian hot rolled flats exports, meanwhile, slumped -24% on-year in June to 175,000t, while cold rolled flats fell -76% to 26,398t and coated flats declined -55% to 74,812t (see Kallanish passim).