The Ministry of Steel, Government of India, and Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in mining and minerals critical to the steel industry. The agreement was exchanged at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, signalling high-level commitment to reinforcing the India–Brazil steel supply ecosystem.

The MoU establishes an institutional framework to enhance collaboration across the steel value chain, with a particular focus on ensuring reliable and sustainable access to key raw materials used in steelmaking. For India’s fast-expanding steel sector, the agreement comes at a strategically important time.

Under the partnership, both countries will work to attract investments in mineral exploration, mining, and related infrastructure that support steel production. The cooperation will also cover mineral processing and recycling technologies, greater automation in mining operations, and the deployment of advanced digital tools. The agreement highlights the use of artificial intelligence in geoscientific data analysis to improve exploration efficiency—an area expected to accelerate resource discovery and reduce operational risks.

Environmental and operational best practices in mineral extraction and processing will form another pillar of collaboration, aligning the partnership with the steel industry’s broader push toward sustainability and responsible sourcing.

Brazil’s resource strength makes it a significant partner for India’s steel ambitions. The country ranks among the world’s leading producers of iron ore and holds substantial reserves of manganese, nickel, and niobium—minerals that are essential for various steel grades and alloy production.

Improved engagement with Brazil is therefore expected to enhance India’s access to both raw materials and advanced mining technologies.
India currently has an installed steelmaking capacity of 218 million tonnes and is pursuing further expansion to meet rising domestic demand driven by infrastructure growth and industrialisation. Against this backdrop, the MoU is positioned as a forward-looking step to secure critical inputs, improve beneficiation and recycling capabilities, and enable more data-driven exploration.

By strengthening upstream mineral linkages and technology exchange, the India–Brazil partnership is expected to bolster supply chain resilience, support capacity expansion plans, and advance the long-term sustainability of India’s steel sector.