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Steel in India

Steel: The Backbone Metal

Steel is iron alloyed with a little carbon, and it is used in buildings, vehicles, machines and pipes, so steel output is a classic gauge of industrial strength.

Steel is made mostly of iron with a small amount of carbon. It is strong, can be shaped easily and is recyclable, which is why so much of the modern world is built from it.

Where it is used

Construction uses the largest share, in bars, beams and sheets. Cars, appliances, railways, ships, pipes and machinery also depend on steel.

A measure of development

As countries build cities and factories, their steel use per person rises. Steel consumption is therefore treated as a sign of an economy’s stage.

India’s place

India is the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, after China, and per-person use is still well below the world average, which is why growth potential is talked about so much.

A metro line

Building a metro rail needs steel for tracks, coaches, stations and bridges, all at once.

Treating steel and iron as identical

Iron is the raw metal; steel is iron refined and mixed with carbon or other elements.

Key takeaways
  • Steel is iron with carbon and other elements.
  • Construction is the biggest user.
  • Use per person rises as countries develop.
  • India is the second-largest producer.
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