Vale Bets Big on India's Surging Steel Demand

As of November 11th, 2025, Brazil-based mining company Vale is positioning itself to capitalize on a significant surge in steel demand from India. The company expects India's steel production to nearly double over the next five to seven years, reaching around 300 million tonnes.

This growth in India's steel industry is expected to offset the sluggish demand in China, where steel output has plateaued at roughly one billion tonnes per year and may decline in the coming years. Vale CEO Gustavo Pimenta believes that India's massive infrastructure investments, driven by its population of 1.6 billion people, will be a major driver of this increased steel consumption.

Pimenta also noted that Vale's high-grade ore blends effectively with India's lower-quality supply, creating a mutually beneficial combination that could benefit both markets. "We bring quality to the Indian mix. As steel output doubles, we see a big growth opportunity," he said.

While China is expected to remain the world's largest steel producer, Vale anticipates that the country's output will stabilize. The company also expects rising demand from other Asian markets, with sales to Vietnam projected to reach 8 million tonnes in 2025, a substantial increase from previous years.