Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: India’s met coke imports are headed for a record this fiscal year. This comes despite an anti dumping levy imposed in July. Domestic shortages and robust demand from pig iron producers are driving the surge. Industry executives shared these details on condition of anonymity. India is the world’s second largest crude steel producer after China. The country may import nearly 6 million tonnes of met coke in FY27. That marks a 32% rise over last year. Indonesia and Poland remain the top supplying nations. Steelmakers have opposed import curbs for over a year. They argue…
Author: Industry Odisha
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: India’s natural gas imports kept rising this fiscal year despite a sharp price surge. Demand was driven by the subsidised fertilizer sector and growing CNG vehicle sales. Limited alternative fuel supply and falling domestic gas output added further support. Industry executives warn that rising spot LNG prices could dent future demand. Spot prices recently touched $25 per mmbtu, a steep jump. Consumers may increasingly shift toward alternative fuel supply options if prices stay elevated. Spot Market Pressure Amid Gulf Supply Disruption Gulf gas supplies remain disrupted due to the Iran war. India now sources 35…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: India’s festive demand has scaled a five year high in the opening phase of the season, with sales across automobiles, consumer durables, apparel and online commerce pointing to a bumper Navratri & Diwali stretch ahead. The upswing, spread across Onam, Rakshabandhan and Ganesh Chaturthi, has come even as prices across several categories have risen through the year a sign, industry executives say, of resilient consumer sentiment heading into the country’s biggest shopping period. Consumer Durables Lead the Charge Refrigerators, ACs and washing machines recorded volume growth of 12 to 15 per cent year on year…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: The government is planning to simplify approval rules for bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies used in domestic drug approvals. Under the new proposal, applicants could start select BA/BE studies simply by informing the drug regulator. This removes the need for prior permission in many cases. The Drugs Technical Advisory Board is expected to discuss this proposal later this month, according to people familiar with the matter. A similar system already exists for BA/BE studies conducted for export purposes. Separately, the government wants to halve import licence timelines for new drugs. Applications under Form CT-17, covering…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s maiden visit to India, held alongside high profile trips by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, drew significant attention at the BRICS summit. Despite the spotlight on bigger powers, Pezeshkian’s presence carried weight, arriving as Iran remains locked in tension with the US. Warmth between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was visible across all three days. Modi has accepted an invitation to visit Tehran. After their bilateral meeting, he posted on X that both sides discussed India Iran friendship and a long term, win win partnership. Beyond…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 15: Time is running short in the US House. Lawmakers have filed rival amendments to the Russia sanctions bill. One would name India among nations facing steep tariffs. Another would drop the tariff clause entirely. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act cleared the Senate 86-11 last month. It targets Russian leadership, its energy sector, and the “shadow fleet” ferrying sanctioned oil. Washington argues these exports fund Moscow’s war effort. The bill also empowers President Donald Trump to impose 100 per cent tariffs on Russia’s largest oil buyers, including China and India. As passed…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 14: The International Potato Center (CIP) has launched a strategic partnership with the Odisha government. The initiative aims to transform the state’s root and tuber agrifood systems. Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of CIP, met with Shri Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav. Jadhav serves as Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Odisha’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment. The two leaders discussed accelerating local potato and sweetpotato production. Their talks also covered building seed infrastructure and improving value addition. The goal is to raise farm incomes across the state. Addressing Odisha’s Seed Import Dependency Odisha cultivates potatoes across extensive agricultural land, yet…
Six years of commercial coal mining reforms deliver record output, revenue and jobs India’s coal block allocation system has changed dramatically over the last decade. The Supreme Court cancelled 204 coal blocks in 2014. This forced a shift to transparent, rules-based allocation. The next big leap came on 18 June 2020. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched commercial coal mine auctions that day. Six years later, it stands out as a landmark mining sector reform. It has delivered shared benefits across industry, government and local communities. A Transparent, Level Playing Field The entire bidding process runs online in two stages. It…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 14: New tuberculosis vaccines expected from 2029 could transform disease prevention. But affordable, predictable supply will determine their real-world impact, Gavi warns. New tuberculosis vaccines could avert up to 7.3 million deaths by 2050. Gavi says this depends on securing sufficient vaccine supply. The vaccines are expected to become available from around 2029. But affordable and predictable access remains uncertain, the global vaccine alliance warned. New TB vaccines could reshape tuberculosis prevention Tuberculosis remains the world’s leading infectious killer. It caused an estimated 1.23 million deaths in 2024, according to WHO. Currently, BCG is the only…
Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 14: NHAI is preparing to modernise its 1033 National Highway helpline. The upgrade will use AI, real-time location tracking and smarter dispatch technology to support motorists. Motorists stranded on India’s highways could soon get faster assistance. NHAI is planning a technological overhaul of its 1033 helpline. The authority wants to bring Artificial Intelligence into the system. Real-time location tracking will help identify distressed callers more precisely. Smart dispatch technology will support decisions on sending ambulances, cranes or patrol vehicles. NHAI 1033 helpline gets AI upgrade The proposed platform aims to understand calls across Indian languages. It…