IANS

Panaji, Apr 4: Export of iron ore from Goa increased from 33 million tonnes to 40 million tonnes in 2009-10, with China topping the list of countries importing the low grade iron.

According to figures released by the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Saturday, China alone accounted for approximately 36 million tonnes of iron ore and iron ore pellets, followed by Japan, which imported 2.4 million tonnes.

Praveen Agarwal, chairman of the MPT, which accounts for 35 per cent of the total iron ore exports from India, told reporters Saturday that iron ore exports to China had increased substantially because of "dramatic increase in steel production by Chinese steel mills".

Agarwal attributed the high level of iron ore exports to a variety of reasons.

"The main reasons is the non-availability of adequate steel making and agglomeration capacity in India, and secondly due to high proces of iron ore in the international market, driven by the demand from China," he said.