India and Brazil Sign MoU to Strengthen and Secure Steel Supply Chain
New Delhi, February 21, 2026: In a significant move to bolster bilateral cooperation, India and Brazil today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing collaboration in mining and minerals critical for the steel sector. The agreement was formalized in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
The MoU establishes an institutional framework to strengthen ties across the entire steel value chain, with a core focus on promoting the reliable and sustainable development of key raw materials essential for steel production.
Key Areas of Cooperation:
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Attracting investment in exploration, mining, and infrastructure development within the steel sector
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Advancing processing and recycling technologies for minerals
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Implementing automation and deploying advanced technologies in exploration and mining activities
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Utilizing artificial intelligence in geoscientific data analysis to enhance exploration processes
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Sharing best practices in mineral extraction, processing, and environmental management
Brazil stands as one of the world's foremost producers of iron ore and holds substantial reserves of other minerals vital to steelmaking, including manganese, nickel, and niobium. This enhanced cooperation is expected to secure India's access to these crucial raw materials and cutting-edge technologies, which are necessary for sustaining the long-term growth of its steel sector.
Currently, India boasts a steelmaking capacity of 218 million tonnes. To meet the burgeoning domestic demand fueled by rapid infrastructure development and industrialization, Indian companies are undertaking significant expansions in their steel production capabilities.
In this context, the MoU represents a pivotal step towards securing mineral resources, facilitating access to advanced technologies in mineral processing, beneficiation, recycling, and data-driven exploration. This partnership is poised to streamline the preparation of steelmaking inputs, drive technology-led improvements across the value chain, and ultimately enhance the resilience and sustainability of the India-Brazil steel supply chain.