SAIL closing in on NMDC's iron ore capacity

The gradual ramp-up of SAIL's captive iron ore capacity has brought it within striking distance of the country's largest iron ore producer, NMDC, which supplies to major steel producers like JSW Steel and Essar.

In 2017-18, SAIL's finished iron ore production capacity was 37 million tonnes and it is still in expansion mode. "The figure includes production from iron ore mines where capacity expansion work is currently being carried out," said a SAIL spokesperson.

NMDC, which is also expanding its capacity, had an iron ore mining capacity of 43 million tonnes in 2017-18. 

In terms of production, however, the gap