Iron ore supply disruptions spike demand for low-grade Indian fines

Iron ore fines of inferior grade accumulated at the mines heads in Odisha and Jharkhand are finding their way into the export markets amid the global supply turmoil created by the shutdown of a string of mines held by Brazil-based Vale, the world's largest iron ore miner.

Demand for lower grade iron ore fines (iron content of less than 58 per cent) had evaporated as Chinese steel mills showed a proclivity to buy higher grade ore or even pellets to feed into their blast furnaces. China's steelmakers were spurred by