BigMint's Odisha iron ore fines (Fe 62%) index rose by INR 300/t ($4/t) w-o-w, reaching INR 4,500/tonne ($54/t) ex-mines as of 21 September. During the week, approximately 275,000 tonnes of iron ore were purchased from merchant miners, with higher-grade fines being offered exclusively by the state miner OMC.
The region is experiencing a shortage of high-grade iron ore fines due to production disruptions caused by the monsoon. Buyers have actively participated in the OMC auction to secure the required raw material inventory.
OMC conducted an auction for the 2.4 mnt iron ore on 20 September in which the entire quantity was sold at a premium. Around 1.377 mnt of fines (Fe 54-65%) and 1.021 mnt of lumps (Fe 58-64%) were booked at INR 2,370-4,970/t and INR 3,900-6,800/t, respectively. Bids (weighted average) for the fine and lumps increased by around INR 275/t and INR 50/t against last month. The company has rolled over base prices in both fines and lumps for the majority of the lots compared to last month's base price. Recent improvements in the sponge iron ore prices and tight availability of high-grade ore due to extended monsoons have supported the premium bids in the auction.
Prices of iron ore in the Odisha region remained unconfirmed, as market participants await new offers from miners. Trade activity slowed in the latter half of the week, with steelmakers adopting a cautious stance ahead of the Odisha Mining Corporation's (OMC's) auction.