Southern India Mills Book Iron Ore Import Vessel from South Africa

Indian steel makers have booked South African lump ore vessel, SteelMint learned from vessel line up data and in conversation with participants. As per reports received, a vessel of about 49,000 MT iron ore lump from South Africa’s Kumba mine is expected to arrive at Krishnapatnam port by first week of Dec’19. The vessel is learned to have booked on monthly average iron ore index basis for Nov month.

If sources are to be believed, another lump import vessel of about 60,500 MT is expected to arrive at Goa towards end of Dec’19. Indian iron ore imports of South African lumps seem to have picked up after depicting a long halt.

Since past few months Indian imports of lumps remained on lower side amid increased preference of pellet by Indian mills. Also, as per sources, South African Saldanha port was under maintenance shut in Oct’19 and hence, booking remained dull for the month.

As per bulk vessel line up data maintained with SteelMint, South African export shipments of iron ore in Oct’19 witnessed at 3.62 MnT, down 19% as against 4.47 MnT in Sep’19.