India: Odisha iron ore production down 56% M-o-M in Apr’20

Odisha – India’s largest iron ore producing state recorded production at 5.37 MnT down 56%, as against 12.18 MnT in Mar’20, according to the provisional data of Odisha Govt. maintained by SteelMint. The figures include the type of material – fines, lump, and concentrate. With no production being recorded by major merchant miners whose leases expired on 31 Mar’20, state’s iron ore production fell sharply in Apr’20.

Tata Steel stood the largest iron ore producer for the month at 1.37 MnT, down 6% on a monthly basis as against 1.45 MnT in Mar’20. SAIL stood second largest at 0.99 MnT, a rise of 15% as compared to 0.86 MnT in Mar’20.

OMC recorded total production at 0.92 MnT, down 11% as compared to 1.03 MnT in Mar’20

Rungta Mines – India’s largest private merchant miner produced 0.44 MnT iron ore in Apr’20. The production recorded a fall of 65% as compared to 1.26 MnT a month ago in Mar’20.

Essel Mining and Industries iron ore production for the month stood at 0.30 MnT, down against 0.45 MnT a month ago.

Amid a phase of lockdown and lull, the Odisha steel & mines department towards early Apr’20 had initiated action to resume operations of merchant iron ore, manganese and chromite mines whose lease validity had ended on March 31, 2020. The state government had successfully auctioned 21 lapsing merchant mines and Letters of Intent (LoIs) were issued to all successful bidders. Following this, vesting orders were also issued for few mines.

Odisha Mine-wise Iron Ore Production: Apr’20 vs Mar’20

Source: Govt. of Odisha
Provisional data including fines, lump & concentrate
Quantity in MnT