Date:19/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/19/stories/2006041900702100.htm

Back Goa's iron ore exports up 10%

Prakash Kamat

Year-end spurt in Chinese offtake led to growth

Panaji , April 18

Goa's iron ore exports grew by over 10 per cent to reach 35.8 million tonnes for the year ended March 31, 2006, as against 32.6 mt for the last financial year.

According to sources in Goa Mineral Ore Exporters' Association (GMOEA), a body representing private sector iron ore exporters in the State, a year-end spurt in intake from Chinese steels in anticipation of a two-digit rise in price by April 2006 (which is not yet effective) led to the double-digit growth in the exports.

Consequently, the exports to China have shot up to 25.7 mt (20.4 mt) showing a growth of 26 per cent. However, the Japanese intake has further gone down from 6.5 mt to 5.9 mt. Goan exports to Europe reached 2.1 mt while Pakistan crossed the one-million tonne mark.

Panaji significant player

Yet another significant feature of iron ore exports during the last financial year is that the minor port of Panaji emerged as a significant player in the ore exports touching a record 11 mt as against 7.98 mt last year. Only recently, Mr Srinnivas V. Dempo, Chairman and Managing Director of Dempo Group, one of the leading iron ore exporters, had urged the State Government to enhance the infrastructure of the minor port with the help of the Central Government schemes for development of inland waterways.