Question : Export of Iron Ore

(a) the details of total production of iron ore in the country and its export to various other countries during the last three years and the current year, country-wise indicating the percentage of its production exported and the foreign exchange earned therefrom, year and country-wise;
(b) whether iron ore is exported from the country keeping in view its decreasing reserves, its demand and consumption and after meeting its domestic demand and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that the export of iron ore is increasing every year whereas its domestic demand is not being met as a result of which the country has become exporter of iron ore instead of becoming a producer of iron ore based domestic products and if so, the details thereof along with the demand and supply ratio of iron ore in the country;
(d) whether non fulfillment of domestic iron ore demand is leading to closure of various industries as they are unable to utilize their capacity and if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to reconsider the export policy of iron ore so as to protect the domestic industries and if so, the details thereof along with the other measures taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) Details of iron ore production in the country and its export quantity along with foreign exchange earned therefrom is as follows (percentage of Export to Production included) :
(Qty in Million Tonne)
Year Production Export Percentage of Export to Production Foreign Exchange Earned (USD in Million)
2014-15 129.32 7.30 5.64% 515.27
2015-16 158.11 5.44 3.44% 191.46
2016-17 192.08 (P) 30.73 16% 1533.53
2017-18 145.75 (P)
(upto December) 18.47
(upto January) - 1151.44
(upto January)
Source : Production: IBM, Nagpur.
Export: DGCI&S, Kolkata.


India’s export of iron ore country-wise during last three years and current year (Up to January 2018) is as follows:

2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18(till Jan-18)
Country Quantity (in Tonnes) Value (in USD) Quantity (in Tonnes) Value (in USD) Quantity (in Tonnes) Value (in USD) Quantity (in Tonnes) Value (in USD)
CHINA P RP 4287520 196807808 5061373 155280876 29474841 1449595257 14047572 841708538
JAPAN 1881987 184460259 468513 23055931 2183571 150230320
KOREA RP 512722 49941839 74642 4336591 866055 69226732
OMAN 27500 701029 128 28417 416351 32020347 387604 35364044
VIETNAM SOC REP 4874 287522 259419 19535137
MALAYSIA 21340 1287290 218271 9554617
SINGAPORE 165155 9358983
KOREA DP RP 75888 4656111
U K 59592 4468946
U ARAB EMTS 648 173001 21945 1601701 135 38941 53012 3730313
INDONESIA 77440 1860148
KENYA 19360 506854 44880 1109521
NEPAL 2156 81222 44169 1142243 37443 861657 32009 629094
PHILIPPINES 10 4422
FINLAND 3 72 27 11022 3 397
NORWAY 1 246
U S A 15 766 3 165
GERMANY 3 154
MALDIVES 0 24
SOUTH AFRICA 7 331 1 59 0 12
SWEDEN 0 10
AUSTRALIA 1 30 0 7
AUSTRIA 2 61 0 10
CANADA 7 147 0 37
IRAN 535245 77475129 290314 31772256 63358 6341448
ITALY 108900 10482057
KUWAIT 108 33661
NETHERLAND 65879 6217116
RUSSIA 80 1491
SAUDI ARAB 314 111433 135 22651 604 61401
OTHERS 50000 5517462
TOTAL 7298107 515269948 5444485 191458719 30730055 1533528758 18470488 1151437941
Source: DGCI&S, Kolkata.

(b) Certain grades of Iron-ore are already regulated as per the Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20. Iron ore of Fe content above 64% (other than of Redi origin to all markets and Iron ore of Goa origin when exported to China, Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan irrespective of the Fe content) is regulated under Foreign Trade Policy 2015-20 by way of canalization through MMTC Limited. Differential duty has also been imposed on export of various grades of Iron Ore. Therefore, steps/measures are already in place to regulate exports of Iron Ore to meet the domestic requirements.
(c) No, Madam. As per DGCI&S data, export of iron ore during last three years and current year has shown a fluctuating trend.
(d) Production of iron ore during the last three years is more than the domestic consumption and exports. Iron & Steel being deregulated sector, capacity utilization of plants is based on commercial consideration.
(e) At present, there is no proposal for revision of export policy of Iron Ore.
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