MUMBAI: India is poised to lead the next phase of global steel demand after two decades of significant growth in China, according to Lakshmi Mittal, executive chairman of ArcelorMittal.The growth will be driven by large-scale infrastructure development, rapid urbanisation and housing demand, and investments in energy transition infrastructure, Mittal said at the Global Steel Dynamics Forum 2026 in New York.“Operating in 2026 is obviously very different to 2006. Today, markets move faster, competition is more global, technology changes constantly, and companies are expected to adapt in real time,” Mittal said. “Even traditional industries like ours operate in a faster, more global, more data-driven, and more environmentally constrained world than they did in 2006.”ArcelorMittal, formed by the merger of Mittal Steel and Arcelor in 2006, is one of the largest steel producers globally.Mittal said that while the industry will continue to face challenges and unexpected events, there are reasons to be optimistic and excited about the future.He highlighted how the merger created a stronger, more resilient business with the scale, diversification and reach to navigate major global shifts--from the financial crisis to the Covid-19 pandemic to the rise of China’s steel industry.In India, ArcelorMittal is present through a joint venture with Nippon Steel–AM/NS India–and operates a plant at Hazira in Gujarat. The company is also setting up an integrated steel plant in Andhra Pradesh.