THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI / HAZIRA, MAY 26, 2026
ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS
India) has achieved a landmark breakthrough in global steel manufacturing by
becoming the first steel company in the world to produce the highest strength
welded pipes equivalent to API 5L X100, marking a major advancement in offshore
engineering and high-performance steel applications.
The company has successfully produced EQ70 grade welded pipes — certified
by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a globally recognised maritime
classification society that independently validates compliance with stringent
safety, strength, and structural standards. This certification positions the
product for critical use in regulated international marine and offshore
projects.
Highlighting the significance of the achievement, AM/NS India said the
development reinforces its commitment to innovation and aligns with its brand
promise, “Smarter Steels, Brighter Futures”, while also strengthening India’s
domestic manufacturing ecosystem under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Viksit
Bharat’ initiatives. The breakthrough enables the indigenous production of
ultra-high strength welded pipes, reducing dependence on imported seamless
pipes from Europe for demanding applications such as oil and gas platforms,
offshore wind structures, and deepwater pipelines.
EQ70 grade, equivalent to American Petroleum Institute (API) 5L X100Q, is
a high-strength low-alloy steel with a minimum yield strength of 690
megapascals (MPa) and exceptional toughness. These properties make it suitable
for extreme offshore environments, including jack-up rig leg bracing and
deepwater pipeline systems. Its superior strength allows for thinner and
lighter pipe designs without compromising structural integrity, while advanced
weldability and corrosion resistance ensure reliability under harsh marine
conditions.
The company achieved this milestone through the successful fabrication of
welded pipes from ABS-certified EQ70 grade plates using Submerged Arc Welding
(SAW) at its flagship Hazira plant in Gujarat. Industry experts note that
producing such ultra-high strength welded pipes is technically complex, as it
requires uniform strength and toughness across both base metal and weld seam
while maintaining integrity under extreme operating conditions.
The development also enhances India’s position in the global value chain for advanced steel products, offering significant benefits such as improved supply security, reduced lead times, lower costs, and enhanced competitiveness for domestic offshore and engineering sectors. AM/NS India has already supplied a substantial quantity of welded pipes to a leading oil and gas producer in the country, signalling early commercial adoption of the technology.
The ABS certification serves as an independent validation of the product’s readiness for global offshore applications, further opening opportunities for participation in international energy and marine infrastructure projects.
