JSW Steel hits 52-wk low on fears of unit closure

Shares of JSW Steel slumped as much as five% today, dipping to 52-week low, after the company said its Karnataka facility may face a complete closure due to acute shortage of iron ore.

The company yesterday said that its Karnataka unit may come to a complete closure due to acute shortage of iron ore -- a development that could lead to shortage of steel in the domestic market and increase in prices.

The company resorted to a massive production cut of 70% in the Vijayanagar plant in Karnataka due to shortage of iron ore after the Supreme Court imposed a ban on mining in the state.

Shares of the company opened on a weak note in an already bearish market and then slipped 4.83% to an intra-day low of Rs 581 on the BSE. They tanked 4.96% to a low of Rs 580.10 on the National Stock Exchange.

The stock however regained some lost ground and was trading at Rs 582.35, down 4.61% on BSE and at Rs 581.60, down 4.72% on NSE at 1234 hours.

"We may have to shut entirely (Vijayanagar plant)...There is a good possibility of that (closure) if the situation does not improve," JSW Vice Chairman and MD Sajjan Jindal said.

Meanwhile, Steel Secretary P K Misra has said that the government will present a fact-sheet before the apex court on how many units have been closed or have resorted to production cut. He sought inputs from the units in the state for the same.