According to customs data, in fiscal year (FY) 2018 which ended on March 31, 2018, India exported 8.95 million mt of iron ore pellets, up 8 percent from the 8.28 million mt of pellets exported in FY 2017 which ended on March 31, 2017. Totals from the past two fiscal years increased substantially from the 0.88 million mt in FY 2015 and 0.83 million mt in FY 2016.
The top export companies in FY 2018 were Jindal Steel & Power (2.03 million mt), Kudremukh Iron Ore (1.59 million mt), Brahmani River Pellets (1.58 million mt), Essar Steel India (1.25 million mt), Rashmi Metaliks (1.17 million mt), and others (1.33 million mt).
China procured 82 percent (7.35 million mt) followed by South Korea, Japan and Oman comprising 11 percent with approximately 0.98 million mt of cumulative pellets exported from India in FY 2018. The remaining 7 percent is comprised by other destinations including Vietnam.