India: NMDC's iron ore rake movements from Chhattisgarh rise 4% m-o-m in Oct'23

India's largest iron ore miner, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), dispatched 333 rakes (1.28 million tonnes) of iron ore from Chhattisgarh in October 2023. A rise of 4% was seen as compared to 319 rakes (1.22 mnt) in September, as per data maintained with SteelMint. Dispatches improved later in the month with deliveries from the KK line getting normalised which resulted in overall increase in dispatch volumes from the miner.

This figure includes movements within Chhattisgarh and to other state-based units but excludes supply to AM/NS India through the slurry pipeline. Notably, a rake carries 3,850 tonnes (t) of iron ore.

Sourcing by other state-based units improves: Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) emerged as the top buyer but recorded a fall of 3% in receipt of iron ore rakes from NMDC Chhattisgarh to 87 in October compared to 90 in September.

JSW Steel received 76 iron ore rakes in October, an increase by 12% as against 68 recorded in September.

NMDC enhanced supply to its Nagarnar plant to 35 rakes in October compared to 21 in September.

Southern India-based pellet maker Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited's sourcing declined by 29% to 30 rakes in October against 42 in September. KIOCL has again suspended operations at its 3.5 mnt/year pellet plant in Mangalore w.e.f 25 October as per the company notification released recently.

NMDC's total iron ore rake movements to plants based outside Chhattisgarh were recorded at 262 in October, down 6% compared to 247 in September.

Sourcing by Chhattisgarh-based units largely stable: NMDC's rake movements to Chhattisgarh-based units were recorded at 71 rakes (0.28 mnt) in October, largely stable compared to 72 (0.21 mnt) in September.