mjunction’s 11th Indian Steel Markets Conference Kicks Off in Bhubaneswar; Spotlights Odisha’s Rise as a Steel Manufacturing Powerhouse

Bhubaneswar, October 21: In a significant event for the Indian steel industry, the 11th edition of the Steel Markets Conference, organized by mjunction services limited, India’s largest B2B e-commerce company, commenced today in Bhubaneswar. This marks the first time the conference is being held in Odisha’s capital, setting the stage for discussions under the theme “Connecting the Dots for a Sustainable Future,” with a spotlight on the Iron ore, Pellets, Scrap, and DRI sectors.

During the inaugural session, industry leaders emphasized Odisha’s critical role in advancing the nation’s steel production capabilities. Delivering the welcome address, Mr. Vinaya Varma, MD & CEO of mjunction services limited, noted, “Odisha accounts for 25% of India’s total steel production and is fast emerging as the ‘Steel Hub’ of India.”

Highlighting the state’s industrial advancements, Rajiv Kumar, VP, Operations at Tata Steel Kalinganagar, shared insights on Tata Steel’s recent commissioning of India’s largest blast furnace at its Kalinganagar facility. This facility is pioneering the use of robotics, data, and vision analytics to enhance safety and productivity.

Manish Singla, Practice Leader, Energy and Commodities, Consulting at CRISIL, pointed out that a significant portion of the new 120 million tons of steel capacity slated for India is being developed in Odisha, with 66% through the Blast Furnace route. This expansion is crucial as consumption growth has consistently surpassed production growth, resulting in higher capacity utilization levels.

Odisha’s prominence is not limited to finished steel; it is also excelling in iron ore production. Vivek Nishant Nath, GM (Sales and Marketing) at Odisha Mining Corp (OMC) Ltd, announced that OMC has become the country’s leading iron ore dispatch company, surpassing NMDC Ltd, with 23 million tons dispatched by September of the current financial year. For FY25, OMC aims to dispatch over 40 million tons.

The conference will conclude tomorrow, featuring pivotal discussions on logistics infrastructure and sourcing strategies, further cementing Odisha’s role as a cornerstone of India’s steel industry.