THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, JULY 4, 2026

Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), one of the flagship integrated steel plants of the Steel Authority of India Limited, has delivered a stellar operational performance in the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27, registering record production across several key units and reinforcing its position as a major contributor to India's steel sector.

The plant recorded a series of production milestones during June and the April–June quarter, reflecting sustained operational excellence, improved process efficiency and strong momentum across both upstream and downstream manufacturing facilities.

During June, RSP achieved its highest-ever production for the month in several critical units, including Blast Furnace-1, Sinter Plant-2, the Plate Mill, the New Plate Mill and the Sheet Shearing Line of the Hot Strip Mill. The performance highlights the plant's ability to sustain high operational efficiency while strengthening production capabilities across its core manufacturing infrastructure.

The April–June quarter proved equally remarkable, with Sinter Plant-1 and the entire sinter plant complex registering their best-ever quarterly sinter production. Crude Steel production at Steel Melting Shop-2 also reached an all-time quarterly high, providing a strong foundation for increased downstream production of finished steel products.

The finished steel segment emerged as one of the strongest growth drivers during the quarter. Both the Plate Mill and the New Plate Mill recorded their highest-ever quarterly output, while the Sheet Shearing Line of the Hot Strip Mill also achieved record production of hot rolled (HR) plates.

The New Plate Mill produced 2,66,263 tonnes of steel plates during the first quarter, registering an impressive 11.6 per cent year-on-year growth. HR plate production from the Sheet Shearing Line increased by 14.9 per cent to 82,514 tonnes, reflecting rising demand and stronger performance in value-added steel products that contribute significantly to the plant's profitability.

Apart from production, RSP also posted exceptional achievements in logistics and dispatch operations. Operational improvements enabled the plant to maximize its road dispatch coefficient, resulting in a record June road dispatch of 48,564 tonnes.

The plant also established a new benchmark in direct dispatches during the April–June quarter, achieving 8,27,871 tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 7,95,521 tonnes. The achievement underscores RSP's continued focus on strengthening supply chain efficiency and ensuring faster deliveries to customers.

By placing equal emphasis on road transportation and direct dispatches, RSP has further enhanced working capital optimization while improving inventory management and customer service.

The strong contribution from high-value product segments such as the Plate Mill and HR plate production has also provided a significant boost to the plant's financial performance, reinforcing its strategy of increasing the share of value-added steel products in its overall production portfolio.