Chrome ore and concentrate exports more than halve to 95,000 tonnes in FY18

Steep 30% export tax contributes to drastic slide in shipments. In value terms, exports shed 45% to Rs 1.90 billion

Chrome ore and chrome concentrates exports from the country plummeted 58 per cent in 2017-18 to 95,000 tonnes, down from 225,000 tonnes in FY17.

The prevailing steep export tax of 30 per cent contributed to the drastic slide in export shipments. In value terms, exports of the chrome ore and its concentrate declined 45.4 per cent to Rs 1.90 billion at the end of 2017-18 as against Rs 3.49 billion in the preceding fiscal.

“Zero export duty for ferro chrome and the recent Supreme Court penalising mines owners for statutory violations has adversely impacted exports of chrome ore and chrome concentrates in