According to market sources report to SteelMint, Western and Southern India based steel mills have enhanced booking of import vessels of South African lump for September and October deliveries. The demand for South African lumps has witnessed increasing amidst limited supplies and increasing domestic pellet prices in western India.
Spot lump premium is assessed at USD 0.2770/MT, CFR China.
As per sources, the assessment for South African lump is heard around USD 95/MT, CNF India.
Jindal SAW hikes pellet offers further -
Earlier, towards the beginning of the week, Jindal SAW pellet offers for Fe 63% were assessed at INR 7900/MT (delivered Kandla) and increased to INR 8200/MT (delivered Kandla) during the week. The increasing pellet prices are paving way for lump demand.
A South African lump supplier shared “We have one Capesize lump vessel and one Supramax vessel to be loaded in August. For September, we have two vessels to be loaded of 90,000 MT each. The shipments are scheduled for September and early October. Demand for imported ore in India is high owing to lump premium being on the lower side”.
List of iron ore import vessels to India in July`18
| Shipper | Unload Port | Vessel Name | Quantity | Country |
| JSW Steel | Krishnapatnam | Berge Kuju | 189,930 | Australia |
| JSW Steel | Krishnapatnam | Hanna Oldendorff | 191,549 | Australia |
| JSW Steel | Jaigarh | Berge Zugspitze | 190,600 | Australia |
| JSW Steel | Krishnapatnam | Lavinia Oldendorff | 189,342 | Australia |
| JSW Steel | Jaigarh | Ore Bayovar | 175,300 | Brazil |
| JSW Steel | Krishnapatnam | Herun Zhejiang | 166,000 | Australia |
| Essar Steel | Krishnapatnam | Berge Arctic | 169,000 | Canada |
| Kamachi Group | Krishnapatnam | Anangel Dawn | 111,058 | South Africa |
| JSW Steel | Jaigarh | Ksl Seville | 165,375 | Australia |
Qty in MT
Provisional Data
Source: SteelMint Stats, Customs
Indian iron ore imports in July`18 witnessed at 1.55 MnT. The imports have increased by 68% as against 0.92 MnT in June`18. On yearly basis imports depicted rise of 40% as compared to July`17 imports at 1.11 MnT. Amidst rising prices by major Odisha miners and NMDC, Indian mills are increasing dependence on imports.