India’s Ministry of Steel has urged the government owned and operated, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to double its retail sales through dealer network to at least 2 million mt per year within the next three years, a ministry official said on Monday.
He said that higher sales through dealer network would lead to greater penetration into rural markets and correct the current skewed per capita sales of steel between rural and urban markets in the country.
At present, per capita steel consumption in rural markets is estimated by the ministry at about 10 kg against 150 kg in urban markets, he said.
SAIL has identified a basket of branded steel products to push into rural markets like SAIL TMT bars, SAIL Jyoti galvanized corrugated and galvanized plain sheets and Salem stainless steel kitchen utensils as these are expected to find wide acceptance among rural retail customers, the official added.