Look out guys ... the Indians have just given us the final excuse to push through $200/tonne. We are now well on the way to $220 a tonne by June 2011!!!
India hikes iron ore export duty to 20%
Published 8:53 PM, 28 Feb 2011
Reuters
MUMBAI - India hiked export duty on iron ore to 20 per cent from 5 per cent for fines and from 15 per cent for lumps in its budget on Monday in a move to curb exports and likely to push red-hot global prices higher.
India, the world's third-biggest iron ore exporter, wants to conserve the natural resource for domestic consumption.
"This will make the exports of (Indian) iron ore uncompetitive in the global market," said R.K. Sharma, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI).
Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma called for curbs on exports of iron ore on Friday and Karnataka, the country's second-biggest producing state, has a ban on shipments which is currently being contested by exporters in the Supreme Court.
India's iron ore exports have already slumped on the ban by Karnataka, with sales down 24.8 per cent in December to 9.7 million tonnes from a year ago.
Exports during the April-December period fell 17.02 per cent from a year earlier to 64.4 million tonnes. The country usually exports around 100 million tonnes per year.
Two other states, leading producer Orissa and Chhattisgarh, which accounts for 5 per cent of India's annual shipments, have asked the federal government to allow them to ban exports.
The hike in export duty in the budget for the year to March 31, 2012 was widely expected as the country tries to underpin its rapidly-growing economy with investment in infrastructure.
The government would prefer states to focus on better regulation of the sector and incentives for increased domestic use of the resource -- moves which target better illegal production instead of export bans which hurt all producers.
FIMI's Sharma said the export duty would deter buyers.
"This measure could be counter-productive, and would make overseas importers shy away from buying from here," he said.
Shares in iron ore miner Sesa Goa extended losses on the duty imposition to hit a 52-week low.
India hiked freight rates for iron ore exports by 50 per cent to 1,500 rupees per tonne on Jan. 27 but kept it unchanged in Friday's Railway Budget.
Spot iron ore prices extended losses on Monday after slumping 5 per cent from mid-February last week, with Chinese steelmakers expecting prices to fall further on demand uncertainties.
MOL Price at posting:
$1.08 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
