New Delhi, Feb 19 (.) With India’s steel production crossing 160 million tonnes and installed capacity expected to approach 300 million tonnes by 2030, industry leaders have signalled a decisive shift in focus — from pure capacity expansion to strengthening the dealer–distributor backbone that drives market reach.
This transition took centre stage at Build Connect 2026, which started here on Thursday.
The event was organised by BigMint in association with Akhil Bhartiya Loha Vyapar Sangh (ABLVS) as the Supporting Association.
As nearly 50 million tonnes of finished steel in FY26 flows through trade-led channels, dealers and distributors now account for a significant share of market movement.
With demand projected to rise steadily in the coming years, discussions at the event highlighted that distribution capability, financial resilience and digital readiness will determine how effectively growth translates into on-ground market expansion.
The platform saw participation from Steel Authority of India Limited (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.
The broad participation reflected alignment across manufacturers, trade bodies, certification agencies and technical institutions on the need to strengthen the distribution ecosystem.
The inaugural ceremony featured senior industry leaders.
Across 12 focused sessions and more than 40 expert addresses, discussions covered infrastructure demand, GST compliance, green steel adoption, supply chain finance, digital transformation, e-commerce integration, quality standards, branding impact and payment recovery mechanisms.
As India moves toward higher steel consumption levels in line with infrastructure expansion and economic growth, stakeholders at Build Connect 2026 reinforced that long-term sectoral strength will depend not only on manufacturing scale but on building a stronger, next-generation dealer–distributor backbone.
The message from the two-day summit was clear: the future of India’s steel industry lies not just in producing more, but in distributing smarter.
. SAS RSA