New Delhi, June 8 (HS): State-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has outlined an ambitious strategy for FY27, focusing on expanding its portfolio of value-added and special steel products, strengthening customer engagement and improving cost efficiency while continuing its long-term capacity expansion plans aligned with India's Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.

The announcement comes after the company reported a strong financial performance for FY26 despite challenges posed by global economic uncertainty and volatility in commodity markets.

According to the company, SAIL recorded an EBITDA growth of 11.75 per cent during FY26 compared to the previous financial year. The company's Profit After Tax (PAT) increased by nearly 50 per cent, while Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by around 44 per cent. During the same period, SAIL reduced its debt burden by Rs 8,148 crore, strengthening its financial position and improving operational flexibility.

SAIL Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda said the company's performance reflected the combined impact of production improvements, stronger marketing initiatives, operational efficiencies and prudent financial management.

Our performance in FY26 reflects the combined effect of marketing initiatives, production improvements, efficiency gains and better financial strategies, which have strengthened both the top line and bottom line. The company's financial health is sound and with strong group synergy, we are well-positioned to achieve our FY27 targets, Dr. Panda said.

He added that SAIL's future strategy would focus on enhancing customer-centric operations, expanding the share of special steel products and reducing working capital borrowings to further improve profitability.

The steel major has identified value-added steel and special steel segments as major growth drivers amid increasing demand from infrastructure, construction, defence, railways, engineering and manufacturing sectors. Industry experts believe that India's rapid urbanisation and industrial expansion are expected to significantly increase domestic steel consumption over the coming years.

During FY26, SAIL implemented several measures aimed at strengthening its market position. These included expansion of retail networks, customer outreach initiatives, delivery innovations, export diversification, warehouse modernisation, product diversification and promotional campaigns to strengthen brand visibility.

The company also reported significant progress in operational efficiency. It achieved its best-ever techno-economic performance across several critical parameters, including coke rate, fuel rate, blast furnace productivity and specific energy consumption. These improvements are expected to support lower production costs and higher competitiveness in domestic and international markets.

As part of its innovation and product development strategy, SAIL introduced 28 new products during FY26, expanding its product basket and enhancing its ability to cater to diverse customer requirements. The move is expected to strengthen the company's presence in specialised and high-value steel segments.

Environmental sustainability remains another key focus area for the public sector steel giant. The company said it is committed to adopting cleaner and more environment-friendly technologies as it moves towards sustainable steelmaking. Efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption are expected to play a major role in supporting India's broader climate and sustainability objectives.

Analysts note that SAIL's emphasis on special steel production, operational efficiency and debt reduction places the company in a stronger position to navigate global market uncertainties. With India's infrastructure spending expected to remain robust over the next decade, domestic steel demand is projected to remain strong, creating significant opportunities for producers.

Looking ahead, SAIL aims to balance growth, profitability and sustainability while supporting the country's industrial and infrastructure development goals. The company believes that continued investments in technology, product innovation and customer-focused solutions will help maintain its competitive edge in an evolving global steel market.

With stronger financials, reduced debt levels and an expanding portfolio of specialised products, SAIL is positioning itself to play a key role in India's manufacturing and infrastructure growth story while pursuing long-term sustainable development objectives.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar