India: BRPL Pellet Export Shipments Hit Record High on Improved Capacity Utilization

According to the vessel line up data maintained with SteelMint, Brahmani River Pellets Limited (BRPL) has recorded sharp increase in pellet export volumes in Nov’18. BRPL sailed out 6 vessels and stood the largest exporter for the month of Nov’18 at 0.34 MnT (up almost six-fold M-o-M), accounting 33% of total Indian pellet export share. Other major exporters were Rashmi Metaliks at 0.22 MnT, KIOCL at 0.17 MnT and JSPL at 0.15 MnT.

BRPL, co-owned by Thriveni Pellets Pvt Ltd and JSW Techno Projects Ltd. BRPL is looking at revamping and redesigning of its plant. Though the pellet complex has a nameplate capacity of four MnT p.a., it was operating at lower capacity levels in past years, but the new promoters are making efforts to increase its capacity utilization.

Indian pellet exports for the month of Nov’18 witnessed an increase of 10% M-o-M to1.04 MnT, as against 0.74 MnT MnT in a month before in Oct’18.

China’s imports of pellets from India up in Nov’18-:

China continued to remain the largest importer of Indian pellet in Nov’18 with imports at 0.93 MnT, up 63% M-o-M as against 0.57 MnT in Oct’18. South Korea stood the second largest importer at 0.06 MnT down by 48% against last month at 0.0.11MnT. Japan remain nil for Nov’18 also.

Qty in MnT
Source: SteelMint Stats, Vessel line data
Provisional Data

Port-wise Indian pellet exports -:

Pellet exports from Paradip port recorded highest in Nov’18 at 0.55 MnT, up more than double against Sept’18 at 0.22 MnT, followed by Dhamra Port at 0.27 MnT (up 3%) and Mangalore port at 0.17 MnT (Up almost three times M-o-M).

Outlook: Indian pellet export volumes are likely to come down in coming months as demand from China has softened on relaxation of environmental norms over which mills have shifted towards usage of low-grade fines.