India to increase steel consumption

India aims to increase the per capita consumption of steel, Indian Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said. Per capita steel consumption in India is 32 kg as compared to 180 kg in China while in other developed countries it is 400-500 kg, Paswan said. Paswan said, in 2005, China produced 350 million metric tons of steel while India's production increased from 37 million metric tons to 42 million metric tons in 2005/2006 period, adding “We don't want to compete with China in this respect but want to increase our per capita consumption”.