Indian Pellet Exports Drop 20% in April over Fall in Prices

According to the customs data maintained with SteelMint, Indian pellet exports have registered significant decline of 20% to 0.60 MnT in Apr’18 against 0.75 MnT in Mar’18.

However, on yearly basis, the exports have witnessed an increase of 9% compared to Apr’17 exports which was at 0.55 MnT then.

Towards end of Mar’18, Indian pellet export prices fell to 7-month low to USD 96-97/MT, FoB India owing to fall in Chinese steel prices and fall in iron ore fines index. The rising port stock inventory also attributed to further decline in exports. The pellet inventory grew by 0.5 MnT in a week, to 2.15 MnT on 23rd Mar’18 as against 1.95 MnT assessed on 16th Mar’18.

The total Indian exports for Jan-Apr’18, witnessed fall of 21% to 2.57 MnT as against same period last year at 3.25 MnT. The month of March and April marks the peak construction activities in China, which has not depicted the same uptick in 2018, owing to extended steel production cuts rendering decline in pellet imports by China.

BRPL stood the largest Indian pellet exporter in Apr’18

BRPL marked the largest pellet exporter for the month of Apr’18 at 0.16 MnT, accounting 27% of total exports share, up marginally against Mar’18 exports.

KIOCL stood the second largest exporter with exports at 0.12 MnT, (down 27% M-o-M) accounting for 20% share in total pellet exports from India, followed by Essar Steel at 0.11 MnT (up 94%) and JSPL at 0.10 MnT ( down 61%).

Other exporters were Rashmi Metaliks at 0.06 MnT and Bagadiya Brothers at 0.05 MnT.

India’s pellet exports to China fell 30% in Apr’18

China continues to be the largest importer of Indian pellet in Apr’18 with imports at 0.37 MnT, down 30% M-o-M as against 0.53 MnT in Mar’18. South Korea stood the second largest importer at 0.11 MnT followed by Vietnam at 0.05 MnT.

Paradeep port accounted for 62% of total pellet exports in Apr’18

Pellet exports from Paradeep port recorded highest in Apr’18 at 0.37 MnT in line with Mar’18 exports, followed by Mangalore port at 0.12 MnT (down 27% M-o-M) and Dhamra port at 0.11 MnT (down 34%).