According to preliminary custom information, India exported 6.81 million mt of iron ore in FY 2019 that ended on March 31, 2019. India exported 5.21 million mt (77 percent) to China followed by 1.07 million mt (16 percent) to Japan, 0.23 million mt (3 percent) to South Korea, 0.10 million mt (1 percent) to Malaysia, 0.09 million mt (1 percent) to Philippines, and 0.12 million mt (2 percent) to other destinations.
The largest shipper was Rungta Mines with 1.85 million mt (27 percent), followed by 1.10 million mt (16 percent) by MMTC, 0.89 million mt (13 percent) by SM Niryat, 0.83 million mt (12 percent) by VM Salgaonkar, 0.77 million mt (11 percent) by Vedanta, and 1.37 million mt (20 percent) by other smaller shippers.
In terms of the port of export, 2.42 million mt (36 percent) of iron ore was exported via Paradip port followed by Mormugao with 2.19 million mt (32 percent), Vizag with 1.10 million mt (16 percent), and 1.09 million mt (16 percent) via other ports.
According to media sources, as detailed data from the previous year was not available to SteelOrbis at time of publication, Indian iron ore exports are down 57 percent year-on-year for the fiscal period with a 58 percent decline in exports to China.