[SMM Iron Ore] 25 June - Iron Ore Stockpile Composition at China's Top 10 Ports

Indian state-run mining giant NMDC Limited formally awarded a major infrastructure development contract valued at INR 26.21 billion ($340 million) to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). According to regulatory filings, the heavy engineering project encompasses the comprehensive design and construction of a centralized iron ore buffer stockyard and mechanized blending facility at the southern port town of Vishakhapatnam. Scheduled for absolute completion within 42 months, the logistics complex will optimize the bulk handling, raw material storage, and maritime movement of high-grade ores, boosting merchant supply chain efficiency.

Indian state-owned miner NMDC Limited has awarded a $317 million (Rs 2,977 crore) contract to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to construct an iron ore buffer stockyard and blending facility at the Visakhapatnam port. The facility features a designed material handling capacity of 10 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) and is scheduled to be completed and commissioned within 42 months. Strategically, this project will enable NMDC to pioneer India's first branded, fixed-specification blended iron ore, which is expected to command a market premium by substantially improving blast furnace efficiency for steelmakers. This infrastructure upgrade is a vital step in NMDC's broader expansion roadmap, supporting the company's target to nearly double its total iron ore mining capacity from a record 53.15 million mt in FY2026 to 100 million mt by 2030, thereby reinforcing both domestic and global supply chain stability.

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), US domestic raw steel production reached 1.851 million net tons for the week ending June 20, 2026, representing a 3.3% year-on-year increase compared to the 1.792 million net tons produced in the same week of 2025, though experiencing a marginal 0.2% week-on-week decline from 1.854 million net tons. The capability utilization rate stood at 80.2%, up from 79.8% last year but slightly down from 80.3% in the preceding week. Adjusted year-to-date production through June 20, 2026, totaled 44.395 million net tons with an average capability utilization rate of 78.6%, marking a robust 6.1% increase from the 41.828 million net tons and 76.8% utilization recorded during the same period in 2025. Geographically, the Southern district led production with 833,000 net tons, followed by the Great Lakes (496,000 net tons), the Midwest (318,000 net tons), the North East (129,000 net tons), and the Western region (75,000 net tons). The market impact points to a solid stabilization in domestic steel output; the consistent capability utilization above 80% and strong year-to-date growth reflect that North American mills are successfully sustaining production volumes to meet steady regional consumption amid a highly protected trade environment.