India: Odisha iron ore prices remain stable amid subdued market activity

• • Market awaits OMC auction for clearer price direction

• • Sharp fall in sponge iron, billet prices weighs on index

BigMint’s Odisha iron ore fines (Fe 62%) index remained stable w-o-w at INR 5,500/t ($58/t) ex-mines on Saturday, 16 May 2026. BigMint recorded deals for around 105,000 t this week, concluded directly between steelmakers and private miners and traders.

Meanwhile, some miners, such as Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Orissa Minerals Development Company Limited (OMDC), offered iron ore through auctions, but these efforts did not attract buyers. Notably, out of the 165,000 t of iron ore offered, only 36,000 t were sold through the auctions, highlighting weak market sentiment.

Rationale (yet to change):

• • T1- Zero (0) deals for Fe 62% fines were recorded in the publishing window, and were hence not considered for price computation. These were given 0% weightage for index calculation.

• • T2 – BigMint received twenty-two (22) offers and indicative prices under the T2 category (offers, indicative, and bids) in this publishing window. Sixteen (16) were taken into consideration and given 100% weightage. To check BigMint’s iron ore assessment, pricing methodology, and specification document, click here.

Market highlights:

The iron ore market in Odisha remained bearish this week amid continued weakness in the downstream steel and pellet segments. Participants indicated that demand recovery is unlikely in the near term despite expectations of further correction in raw material prices, as finished steel demand remains sluggish.

Most buyers maintained a wait-and-watch approach, avoiding aggressive procurement amid uncertainty over upcoming auction prices and weak margins in the steel value chain. Traders stated that overall market activity remained significantly slower compared to previous weeks, with fewer inquiries and lower transaction volumes observed across the region.

As per a buyer, “Sponge iron and billet prices right now are too weak and under pressure due to sluggish demand from the long steel segment and limited finished steel bookings. The near-term outlook is hazy as demand does not seem to be improving.”

Another market participant added, “NMDC’s upward price revision in the first week of May created further confusion in the market, especially when sentiments were already weak. Higher prices were not aligning with the actual market conditions, which affected buying decisions further.”

Participants also highlighted that logistical constraints and rising fuel prices have added to market uncertainty, increasing transportation costs and weighing on overall trade activity. As a result, most sellers preferred to hold offers during the week, with only limited deals concluded at discounted price levels.

On the other side, JSW Steel subsidiary Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd has started iron ore production at the Netrabandha Pahar (West) mine in Odisha, nearly nine years after winning the block in the 2017 auction at an 87.15% premium. Meanwhile, Rungta Mines Limited also commenced production at the Chandiposi and Pureibahal mines from 20 April. The ramp-up of these auctioned mines is expected to improve iron ore availability in Odisha. Both mines have annual production capacities of 1 million tonnes (mnt) each that will ease the material availability.

Factors affecting iron ore prices:

Pellet prices fall sharply: Pellet (6-20 mm, Fe 62.5%) prices in Odisha’s Barbil dropped by INR 100/t w-o-w to INR 8,300/t ($86.5/t) loaded to wagon on 15 May. Pellet (Fe 62.5%, 6-20 mm) prices in Durgapur fell by INR 150/t to INR 9,400/t ($98/t) exw.

Sponge iron prices drop w-o-w: According to BigMint’s assessment, sponge iron C-DRI (FeM 80%) prices in Rourkela fell by INR 400/t ($4/t) w-o-w to INR 26,600/t ($277/t) on 16 May.

Billet prices stable w-o-w: Meanwhile, steel billet (100*100 mm) prices in Rourkela declined by INR 400/t ($4/t) w-o-w to INR 39,600/t ($413/t) on 16 May.

Outlook:

As per BigMint’s analysis, iron ore prices in Odisha are expected to remain under pressure in the near term due to improved production and availability. However, a clearer market direction is likely to emerge after the upcoming Odisha Mining Corporation Limited (OMC) auction, which should offer fresh insights into buyer sentiment.