Iron Ore Pellet

"The application of this high export tariff has reduced a merchant exporter's net effective realisation, rendering pellet exports unviable," it said.

According to the clarification, India exported 1,48,76,270 tonnes of these pellets during 2004-2014

Congress alleged that Rs 40,000 crore worth of iron ore pellets were exported in violation of laws by some private players, causing losses to the exchequer, and demanded that names be made public

Pellet makers, sponge iron and pig iron producers allowed to participate

At present, pellets, an intermediate product in the process of steel making, enjoy a duty waiver regardless of their iron content

Demand has shifted for Indian-origin pellets as uncertainty grows about supplies from Vale, the world's top iron ore producer.

Since the product is losing out on price to iron ore and lumps at home, exports offer the only reprieve; a duty hike will blunt India's competitive edge in the global market

NMDC, a few days ago, has taken a price hike of Rs 200/tonne for iron ore lumps and Rs 150/tonne for iron ore fines

The CEC has said allowing pellet export would generate more demand for ore produced in Karnataka

The pellet manufacturers have also demanded that the provision to sell up to 25 per cent of the unused iron ore by captive miners be extended to existing mines as well