Data goof-up: Iron ore exports show 157% rise in FY13 despite severe crisis

Interestingly, the same data also depicted that export value for iron ore declined to around $1.6 bn from $4.6 bn voer the period

The ongoing mining crisis in the country following regulatory crackdown on companies may have led to an unprecedented decline in iron ore exports in 2012-13, but an official statistical department glossed over this fact.  

Figures compiled by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCIS) showed that India’s exports of iron ore jumped unbelievable two-and-a-half-times to 121 million tonne (MT) in 2012-13 compared to 47 million tonnes a year ago. DGCIS comes under the Commerce & Industry Ministry.

Interestingly, the same data also depicted that the export value for iron ore declined to around $1.6 billion from around $4.6 billion over the period.

These figures vary significantly from the data released by other bodies. According to the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), the outbound shipments of iron ore declined marginally to 18.37 mt in 2012-13 from 61.74 mt in 2011-12. According to the latest provisional data from the mines ministry, iron ore exports stood at 14.2 mt  between April-December 2012.

When contacted, DGCIS said it has released only principal commodity-wise figures for this year. "We have released the Principal commodity wise figures for March 2013 as well as April to March 2012-13. The item level data for March 2013 is currently under validation," DGCIS director general D Sinha told Business Standard.

He said according to provisional figures, exports of iron ore in 2012-13 were only around 17 MT as compared to 47 MT in 2011-12. This revision will be made when item-wise figures are released by end of this month.
 
To a query whether the revision in the iron ore figures would lead to a change in the value of export figures for the item, he answered, “There will be no change in the value figures for exports."

In order to increase domestic availability of the mineral, the government had last year increased the duty on iron ore exports to 30%. Also, due to the illegal activities surrounding the mining sector, the exports from two of the largest iron ore producing and exporting states - Goa and Karnataka – were banned.

Earlier, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) had goofed up when it showed industrial growth at 6.8% for the month of January, 2012 against the actual 1.1% due to confusion over sugar output sent by the Directorate of Sugar.