Date | March 13, 2017:

Following the lifting of mining ban in 2014, India's iron ore output increased 26.63% to154.48 million tonnes (mt) during April-January in the current fiscal.

While in the same period of 2015-16 it stood at 122 million tonnes. According to the Mines Secretary, Arun Kumar, the percentage increase is 26.63%, whereas 7.79% increase in value terms is being seen.

During the 10months, the total value of the ore produced stood at Rs 19,417 crore. The country's12 major ports' iron ore shipment rose 168.59% to 38.61 million tonne in April-January of this fiscal, according to the Indian Ports Association (IPA).

While as compared to a year before period these ports had handled 14.37 million tonnes of key steel-making raw material.

India has 12 major ports - JNPT, Kandla, Mormugao,Mumbai, Cochin, New Mangalore, Paradip, Ennore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, V O Chidambaranar and Kolkata (including Haldia).

These ports handle approximately 61% of the total cargo traffic of the country.

(Source: http://www.indiainfoline.com/)