Reuters reported that India's top court has adjourned the hearing of a ban on iron ore exports from the southern state of Karnataka to March 4th 2011. The court also said iron ore cleared for exports before the ban can be exported now.
It may be noted that Karnataka state banned the export of iron ore from 10 ports and stopped its transport to other ports for exports in July 2010, citing a drive against illegal mining and the need to preserve the raw material for local steelmakers.
Exporters and miners from the state challenged the ban in Karnataka High Court, but lost the case, following which they petitioned the Supreme Court in November 2010.
India is the world's third largest supplier of iron ore with most of its approximately 100 million tonnes of the commodity landing in China that houses the world's largest steel industry.
(Source: www.irsteel.com )