Centre urged to remove export duty on iron ore

PANAJI: Federation of Indian Mineral Industry (FIMI) on Thursday, made a presentation to the commerce ministry in New Delhi on Friday asking for the withdrawal of 30% export duty on iron ore.
RK Sharma, secretary general, FIMI, said, "It is imperative to make Indian exports competitive by withdrawing duty and bringing railway freight on par with domestic freight.If that is done, exports of iron ore can go up to 70-75 million tonnes per year." In the presentation, FIM stressed that high export taxes are hurting industries, primarily in Goa and Karnataka. In Goa, mining industry is at a standstill though the Supreme Court has lifted the ban. Goa, like Karnataka, has suffered due to a ban on mining activities from September 2012 to April 2014. Goa accounted for 70% of India's exports of iron ore, it pointed out. At present, export duty of iron ore on fines and lumps is 30%, while duty on pellets is 5%.