The Hindu Business Line : Decline in iron ore exports through east coast ports

In a statement, FIMI has given port-wise break-ups to emphasise the sharp drop in shipments. In March 2006, Haldia handled 5.6 lakh tonnes of iron ore exports, Paradip 1.2 million tonnes (mt), Visakhapatnam 7.4 lakh tonnes, Kakinada 3.6 lakh tonnes and Chennai 1.14 mt.

The corresponding figures for March this year are estimated to be Haldia 3.4 lakh tonnes, of which 2.4 lakh tonnes of shipments have been undertaken till now and another one lakh tonnes are due to take place in the remainder of the month.

Iron ore Handling

Similarly, Paradip is to handle 5.4 lakh tonnes of which 3.4 lakh tonnes have already been handled; Visakhapatnam 4.3 lakh tonnes of which 2.5 lakh tonnes have been undertaken; Kakinada 1.3 lakh tonnes of which 90,000 tonnes have already been undertaken and Chennai 7.4 lakh tonnes of which 4.9 lakh tonnes have already been handled.

Ennore, which did not handle any shipment in March last year, is to handle about one lakh tonnes in March this year, half of which has already been handled.

If all ports are taken into account, total exports in March this year will be around 7.16 mt, of which 4.98 mt have already been handled by the port with the balance 2.18 mt due to be handled in the remainder of the month. In March 2006, all the ports taken together handled 10.57 mt. Thus, the exports in March this year will be down by 33 per cent vis-à-vis the exports in 2006. This contradicts the claim by Indian Steel Alliance that exports have surged by 34 per cent, says the FIMI statement.

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