India’s iron ore and pellet exports recorded a sharp recovery in April 2026, supported by stronger buying from China and improving shipping conditions.
According to market data from BigMint, India exported approximately 2.29 million metric tons of iron ore and pellets in April, representing a 39.6% month-on-month increase compared to March.
The total included:
- 2.14 million mt of iron ore
- 0.15 million mt of pellets
Exports to China surged from 1.14 million mt in March to 1.81 million mt in April, supported by post-holiday restocking and stronger procurement activity from Chinese steel mills.
Improved logistics also contributed to the recovery, as vessel availability normalized after freight disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions eased.
Among exporters:
- Rungta Mines led shipments with 0.88 million mt
- OCL Iron and Ispat followed with 0.31 million mt
- ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India exported 0.21 million mt
On the logistics side, Dhamra Port remained the busiest export hub with 0.92 million mt of shipments.
Despite stronger iron ore exports, pellet exports remained weak due to pricing gaps and cautious buyer sentiment.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
