Question : EXPORT OF IRON ORE

(a) whether the Government have exported iron ore worth two billion dollars to China during first 5 months of the year 2004;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have received any complaints regarding export of sub-standard iron ores to China by exporters;

(d) whether there has been steep hike in the price of steel due to large scale exports of iron ores during last two years;

(e) whether the Government are contemplating complete ban on the export of iron ores to reduce the prices of steel;

(f) the names of the countries to whom iron ores were exported during last three years alongwith the value of total exports; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(SHRI E.V.K.S. ELANGOVAN)

(a)& (b)No, Sir. The total exports of iron ore from India to China from April `04 to Aug `04 was about US dollars 0.75 billion.

(c) No, Sir.

(d) No, Sir.

(e) There is no such proposal under consideration at present.

(f)&(g)The names of countries to which Iron ore has been exported during the last three years, along with values are as follows:

(Value in Rs. Crores)

COUNTRY	2001-2002	2002-2003	2003-2004


CHINA	1,560.47	2,080.92	5,535.63
JAPAN	1,166.60	1,112.72	996.10
S.KOREA	281.44	190.38	146.66
TAIWAN	66.03	74.06	74.55
EUROPE	77.90	116.28	157.75
OTHERS	169.39	80.79	131.39
TOTAL	3,321.83	3,655.15	7,042.08
(Source: MMTC)