Steel 360 Magazine - February 2020

In this issue

VOL VIII ISSUE 08 FEBRUARY 2020
RNI: CHHBIL/2013/53990
Postal Regn No CG/RYP DN/87/2018-20
www.steel-360.com
EDITOR’S NOTE
@360steel Steel 360
Red Haze!
Odisha’s historic mines auctions are looming large. With 19 leases up for expiry
on March 31, mine owners are working backwards to beat the clock, kicking up a
swirling red haze in the process. Will the auctions iron out the wrinkles of raw
material insecurity or lead to fresh blood and iron tactics? Will prices rise, driving
up imports? Will there be supply disruptions? With aggressive bids, will the new
market movers be the large captive users controlling a sizeable 22-25 MnT?
SteelMint, the sister concern of Steel360, mobilised reporters at ground zero, for
a first-hand account of the frenzy unfolding in India’s iron ore capital. Our cover
story on pg. 40 takes an incisive look at the Odisha narrative.
India’s iron ore production in CY 2019 surpassed 231 MnT against CY18’s 204.7
MnT, up 12.9%. Odisha’s share was a chunky 130.04 MnT or 56.29%. We dig
deep into data to come up with a 360-degree look at India’s iron ore’s
performance in CY19. Turn to pg. 32 to read the story.
The spotlight lingers on Odisha. It accounts for 98% of India’s chromite reserves,
97% of which lies in Sukinda. Its de-reservation may see aggressive bids and price
volatility. We explore the chrome ore dynamics on pg. 10.
Intervista, on pg. 56, turns the arc lights on Koushik Chatterjee, ED & CFO, Tata
Steel, who is upbeat that the steel up-cycle is beginning.
World View explores on pg. 06 the steel scenario in neighbouring Bangladesh
through the eyes of Sanjoy Ghosh, Head of Supply Chain at
BSRM, the country’s oldest steel mill.
Madhumita Mookerji
Plus, we focus on a lot more. Enjoy the read!