Big Boost for India’s steel ambitions as Brazil joins hands

The agreement was exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

The MoU establishes an institutional framework to deepen bilateral collaboration across the steel value chain, with a focus on ensuring reliable and sustainable access to key raw materials required for steel production.

Key areas of cooperation include:

Attracting investment in mineral exploration, mining and infrastructure development

Advancing mineral processing and recycling technologies

Promoting automation and advanced technologies in mining operations

Leveraging artificial intelligence for geoscientific data analysis to improve exploration efficiency

Sharing best practices in mineral extraction, processing and environmental management

Brazil is one of the world’s leading producers of iron ore and holds substantial reserves of steelmaking minerals such as manganese, nickel and niobium. Stronger collaboration is expected to enhance India’s access to critical raw materials and advanced technologies necessary for long-term growth.

India currently has a steelmaking capacity of 218 million tonnes and is expanding production to meet rising domestic demand driven by infrastructure development and industrialisation.

According to the government, the MoU marks a significant step toward securing mineral resources essential for steel production while facilitating access to cutting-edge technologies in beneficiation, recycling and data-driven exploration.

The partnership is expected to improve efficiency in preparing steelmaking inputs, drive technology-led improvements across the value chain, and strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the India–Brazil steel supply network.