All major ports, save Mormugao, saw their iron ore volumes mounting; Mormugao was battered by the mining ban in Goa and curbs clamped on Karnataka ore
A favourable supply scenario for the steel-making raw material is expected to drive the company's earnings
The move is likely to facilitate greater ore availability to steel mills post March 31, 2020 when licences of many merchant mines expire
However, the export outlook has improved in the last few months after a blast at Vale's mines in Brazil shut off 70 million tonnes in annual supplies
Indian iron ore producers are also set to profit from global tailwinds
Existing mining company could have own infrastructure in the form of trucks, jetties, site offices, cranes and other leased equipment and not just the mine resource
In 2018-19, India became a net importer of iron ore. Inward shipment rose 43% to 12.3 mt as steelmakers prefer imported ore
Iron ore has staged a stunning rally in 2019 as supply disruptions in Brazil and Australia, the top shippers, spurred forecasts the seaborne market will swing to a deficit
While Tata Steel believes procuring via auction is better, Sajjan Jindal's JSW Steel is going all out to bid for mines in order to have captive ore resource for backward integration
China's latest fiscal stimulus is also expected to prop up iron ore demand and hence support prices
Global prices jumped owing to various reasons, including the accident in one of Brazil's mines
Only 17 assets sold since new MMDR Act; other pain points in auction process include exhorbitant pricing, poor mineral reserves
The prices of iron ore are expected to increase by 3-4% in 2019
The sales volume exceeded production on Chhattisgarh, but lagged in Karnataka
Restrictions on participation in e-auctions and the ban on mining in Goa are weighing down the industry
More supplies of iron ore will be required as the South Asian nation is set to overtake Japan as the world's second-biggest steel producer this year
Prices to stay elevated despite range bound international trends
About 90% of iron ore mined in FY18 was for domestic use; rest was shipped to China, Japan, South Korea, Oman, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia
If SC decides to allow export of pellets, stated-owned KIOCL Limited would be a major beneficiary
The company's chairman, Naveen Jindal, also rues coal shortage for the industry in the state