Indian state-owned iron ore exporter KIOCL closed its pellet plant, with a capacity of 3.5 million tons per year, in Mangalore on September 28 on account of its unavailability of iron ore fines and maintenance activities, without giving specific time for the resumption.

This was the fourth time for the pellet plant to suspend operation so far this year.

The plant was shut down on August 5 owing to a lack of iron ore fines and it was restarted in early September.