July 30, 2010: The move by the Karnataka government to ban iron ore exports from its 10 ports to contain illegal mining is snowballing into a major controversy with the exporters.

July 30, 2010: State-run Steel Authority of India (SAIL) today registered an 11.5% fall in first-quarter net profit at Rs 1,177 crore due to higher input costs, lower sales and increased cost on employees.

July 30, 2010: Pinning hopes on developing economies for its future growth, ArcelorMittal has said that it expects to start work on one of its Rs 1.3 lakh crore India projects in early 2011.

July 29, 2010: Steel behemoth ArcelorMittal is planning to study a spinoff of its stainless steel unit to present shareholders. This will allow the business to pursue growth, believes the company, according to a Reuters report.

July 29, 2010: The Orissa government today halted the land acquisition process for the proposed Rs 51,000-crore steel plant near here, to be developed by Korean company Posco, after facing stiff opposition from villagers.

July 29, 2010: Iron ore exporters are increasingly looking at the domestic market as demand for the ore witnessed decline on the back of sluggish demand from China, one of the major buyers of Indian ore.

July 29, 2010: Iron ore miners in Karnataka are adopting a wait-and-watch approach over the Karnataka government's reported move to ban exports from ports in the state.

July 29, 2010: Setting aside its long standing dispute with Rio Tinto over formation of a billion dollar joint venture to mine iron ore in the state, Orissa government today said it was considering a fresh agreement with the global mining major.

July 28, 2010: The world's fourth largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel, reported improved earnings for the fifth consecutive quarter. However, the company expressed concern over its slow growth in China, as per a recent Reuters report. The steep decline in prices in China is forcing steelmakers to slash output.

July 28, 2010: The Orissa government today began land acquisition for the proposed Rs 51,000 crore Posco steel project in Jagathsinghpur district, even as a central team termed the process as "illegal" saying that the Forest Rights Act had been violated.

Mining major NMDC Ltd is planning to invest $400 million for acquisition of two coking coal mines from Russia's Kolmar region. According to a report from Reuters, a company official said that its representatives have already inspected the mines and work is on in this direction.

July 27, 2010: Karnataka has banned export of iron ore from the 10 ports in the State. This would effective from Monday. Announcing the decision, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, said, "The State has stopped issue of permits for movement of iron ore in the State except for captive purpose."

July 27, 2010: India's largest iron ore producer NMDC Limited is planning to adopt the ITmk3 technology to create a 400,000 tons capacity sponge iron unit at Palwancha in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.

July 27, 2010: State-owned KIOCL Ltd, an exporter of iron ore pellets, is all set to acquire Hospet-based Tungabhadra Steel Products Ltd (TSPL), a sick PSU engaged in the business of structural fabrication, for an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore.

July 27, 2010: JFE Steel Corp, the world's fifth-biggest steelmaker, said it had no plans to further raise its stake in India's JSW Steel Ltd above 14.99%.

July 27, 2010: Leading steel producer Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has started reviving erstwhile Malvika Steel Ltd (MSL) renamed Jagdishpur SAIL Unit (JSU) by laying the foundation stone of a TMT Bar Mill of 1.5 lakh ton per annum (TPA) capacity today.

July 26, 2010: NRI billionaire L N Mittal-led ArcelorMittal has paid Rs 600 crore to the Karnataka government for land in Bellary, state Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said on July 24.

July 26, 2010: The Institute for Steel Development and Growth (INSDAG) will hold a national-level competition which seeks to recognise and reward talented students of civil and structural engineering in India for excellence and innovation in structural steel design.