India: NMDC’s iron ore rake movements inch up m-o-m in Apr’25

• Supplies to Chhattisgarh-based units rise 13% m-o-m
• NMDC’s production increase by 13% m-o-m in Apr’25

The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), India’s largest iron ore miner, dispatched 538 rakes from its Chhattisgarh mines in April 2025, equivalent to 2.07 million tonnes (mnt) of iron ore. This was a marginal rise of 2% compared to 525 rakes (2.02 mnt) in March, as per BigMint data.

These rake movements were within Chhattisgarh and to other state-based units but excluded supply to AM/NS India through slurry pipeline. Each rake carries around 3,850 t of iron ore.

NMDC’s monthly iron ore output touched 4 mnt in Apr’25, up by 13% from 3.55 mnt in Mar’25.

Operations were disrupted in March due to a worker agitation stemming from unresolved wage settlement negotiations. However, with operations stabilising in April following the resolution of the dispute, rake movement saw an improvement.

Sourcing by units outside Chhattisgarh drops

Overall, NMDC’s iron ore movements to plants outside Chhattisgarh edged down by 2% to 362 rakes in April against 368 rakes in March.

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) emerged as the top buyer in April, receiving 150 rakes against 148 booked in the previous month, a marginal increase of 1%.

JSW Steel, Dolvi, received 85 iron ore rakes in April, a drop of 48% compared with 112 in March.

KIOCL recorded a sharp increase of 71% in its iron ore rake bookings from NMDC, at 41 in April compared to 24 in March. In the last quarter (Jan-Mar 2025) KIOCL had concluded quite a decent number of cargos for export.

AM/NS India sourced 13 rakes in April against 21 rakes in March, down 38% m-o-m.

Decline in sourcing by Chhattisgarh-based units

NMDC dispatched 176 (0.68 mnt) iron ore rakes to Chhattisgarh-based units in April, up 13% m-o-m as against 157 (0.60 mnt) in March. Additionally, NMDC’s supplies to its Nagarnar plant increased by 17% in April to 95 rakes compared to 81 in March.