×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Highest ever iron-ore exports from Goa ports this fiscal

Last Updated 08 September 2011, 05:05 IST

A total 54.45 million metric tonnes of iron ore, a raw material that sees huge demand from the steel industry, was exported from Goan ports, of which 47.23 MT was of Goan origin and the rest was sourced from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA), an umbrella organisation of ore exporters, have compiled the figures, which indicate that iron ore exports stood at an all-time high in the 2010-11 fiscal.

About 46.84 million tonnes of iron ore were exported from both the ports to various countries, including China, which accounted for more than 90 per cent of overseas consignments, followed by Japan.

The growing exports come at a time when there is a demand by environmentalists and political parties for imposition of an upper ceiling on the quantum of ore mined within Goa.

China, the main international buyer of India's iron ore produce, bought 48.93 million metric tonnes of ore last fiscal. The country surpassed India's traditional largest buyer, Japan, which purchased only 3.4 million metric tonnes of ore from Goa during the 2010-11 financial year.

Consignments were also shipped from Goan ports to countries like South Korea, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Thailand, Netherlands, Romania and Italy, but at a lower scale compared to the gigantic demand of China.

The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), a facility in the South district of Goa, remained the biggest handler of iron ore in the state.

The figures compiled by the GMOEA revealed that 39.95 million metric tonnes of ore were routed through the port, while 14.56 million metric tonnes of ore was exported from the state-run Panaji minor port, situated alongside the capital city of Panaji.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 08 September 2011, 05:05 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT