Indian government will not ban iron ore exports

Monday, 16 August 2010 17:50:05 (GMT+2)

Indian Mines Minister B.K. Handique has said on August 16 that the government has announced no intention of banning iron ore exports.

Reported by Indian press Handique said that exports are needed as stocking of the resource might cause environmental hazards. "It is necessary to export iron ore, we lack the technical knowledge to use all of it," the minister reportedly said.

Out of a total annual production of 218 million mt, 117 million mt of iron ore are exported, he added.

As SteelOrbis previously reported, India has been gradually increasing its export tax on iron ore, with the tax level on lumps standing at 15 percent and the tax on fines standing at five percent. Recently, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) recommended imposing a 20 percent duty on exports of iron ore fines as against the current five percent.

Banning of iron ore exports has been a ecent hot topic in the country.

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