new delhi june 2 reuters  indias finished steel purchases from china touched a fiveyear high in april and the countrys overall imports of the alloy reached a fouryear high according to provisional government data reviewed by reuters in april china emerged as the secondbiggest steel exporter to india by shipping out 01 million tonnes up 79 year on year imports from china accounted for nearly a quarter of indias overall finished steel imports in april india imported 05 million tonnes of finished steel in april  the highest since 2019  up 382 from a year earlier the data showed china the worlds largest steel producer exported mostly coldrolled sheets  used in the automobile white goods and consumer durable sectors india also imported electrical sheets and pipes from china the data showed in april south korea was the top exporter of finished steel by shipping out 02 million tonnes and accounting for 32 of indias overall imports however india the worlds secondbiggest crude steel producer was a net exporter of finished steel in april with 09 million tonnes sold to top buyers such as italy spain vietnam nepal and the united arab emirates the data showed in april indias steel exports to italy surged to their highest level in six years europe is a key market for indias steel and indian steel makers are concerned over the european unions plans to impose a levy on highcarbon goods imports from 2026 targeting imports of steel and a few other commodities domestically indias crude steel production stood at 107 million tonnes in april up 32 from a year earlier indias steel consumption is expected to grow by 75 during the current fiscal year to march 2024 boosted by rising demand from the domestic construction railway and capital goods sectors