Global Iron Ore Shipments Increased 1.9% Week-on-Week to 31.45 Million mt during March 4-10

India has extended enhanced export-credit insurance support for shipments to West Asia until March 31, 2027, providing continued risk protection for exporters as the UAE remains one of the country's largest finished-steel export markets. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade extended the eligibility timeline under Component II of the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF), citing continued geopolitical disruptions and their impact on maritime logistics across the Gulf and adjoining regions. The extension is relevant to India's steel trade with the region. Ministry of Steel data sourced from the Joint Plant Committee show that India exported 2.986 million tonnes of finished steel during April-August 2026, up 34.1% year on year. The UAE received 389,200 tonnes, accounting for 13.0% of India's total finished-steel exports and ranking as the country's second-largest export destination after Vietnam. The UAE's importance was even greater earlier in the financial year. It was India's largest finished-steel export destination during April-June, receiving 249,000 tonnes, or 15.6% of total exports. Cumulative shipments to the UAE increased to 339,600 tonnes during April-July before reaching 389,200 tonnes by the end of August. RELIEF covers consignments destined for or transshipped through specified West Asian markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain, among others. Under Component II, eligible exporters obtaining ECGC cover can receive risk coverage of up to 95%, while premiums are prevented from increasing beyond pre-disruption levels during the eligible period. The government said the intervention responds to extraordinary freight escalation, higher insurance premiums and war-related export risks caused by disruptions in the Gulf and wider West Asian maritime corridor. For the steel sector, the measure can help limit payment and insurance risks for eligible shipments to a region that has become an important outlet for Indian finished steel. However, the support should not be interpreted as applying to all Indian steel exports to West Asia. Component II specifically covers Full Container Load and Less than Container Load cargo, along with reefer containers, meaning its direct applicability is strongest for eligible containerised steel shipments rather than conventional bulk or breakbulk cargoes.

Coal India Limited (CIL) increased coal supplies by 12.5% year on year to 61.20 million tonnes in September FY2026-27, according to a company press release. Coal supplies to the power sector rose 10.63% YoY to 48.90 million tonnes, while coal production increased 9.18% to 53.50 million tonnes. In the second quarter, CIL’s coal supplies rose 12.04% YoY to 186.04 million tonnes, including 148.20 million tonnes supplied to the power sector.

Indonesia Resources Studies (IRESS) has proposed separating the coal Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) for the power sector from other domestic demand starting in 2027, with coal supplied to private smelters excluded from the DMO calculation. IRESS said around 70 million tonnes of the 239 million-tonne DMO target in 2025 was allocated to smelters. The group proposed setting a separate electricity DMO quota for each coal producer under the 2027 RKAB, with compliance based on actual deliveries to power plants.