India is expanding its power infrastructure while domestic CRGO production remains below national requirements. This article examines BIS certification, import availability, domestic capacity expansion, transformer costs and why CRGO requires a specialised policy approach.

India continues to strengthen its position as a reliable sourcing hub for CRGO electrical steel, particularly for buyers seeking competitive pricing and shorter lead times. Successful international procurement depends not only on product availability but also on transparent inspections, proper export documentation, and supplier reliability. Buyers should verify material specifications and shipping procedures before every order.

Quick Answer India needs approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of CRGO steel annually. Domestic production meets roughly 10–12%. The gap is bridged by imports — imports that are constrained by a certification system that has repeatedly created supply crises. As of May 2026, the domestic production gap will not close meaningfully until FY2028 at the earliest. Every transformer built in India until then depends on a supply chain that is structurally fragile. Table of Contents 1.

India’s transformer industry has experienced a visible slowdown in fresh orders over the past few months. Yet, paradoxically, the availability of Cold Rolled Grain Oriented (CRGO) electrical steel continues to remain tight. Prices have not corrected meaningfully, sourcing has become selective, and buyers often find fewer quality options despite reduced immediate demand. This apparent contradiction has left many transformer manufacturers and procurement teams questioning what