The Minister of Steel, Shri Beni Prasad Verma has said that the prices of steel items in the domestic market have been fluctuating in accordance with the market conditions such as demand supply scenario, trend of international steel prices, cost of raw materials and other inputs. A table indicating monthly price movement in respect of representative category of steel items including those used for building purposes in retail market in four main regions – Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai during the last three years (2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12) is annexed at Annexure I to III.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today Shri Verma said, Steel is a deregulated sector. Accordingly, prices of various steel items are decided by the individual producers based on market conditions including demand supply scenario, trend of international steel prices, cost of raw materials and other inputs, etc. Government has no direct role in fixation of steel prices. However, Government intervenes through fiscal measures, as and when need arises, to maintain steady supply position in the domestic market and to boost steel production in the country.
