Iron ore companies have cut down exports due to price sliding of steel in the international market, triggered by economic meltdown. Similarly, import of coking coal has also been dropped to 10 percent, another port trust official said.
The port handled a record 42.44 million tonnes of different materials, including iron ore, thermal coal and coking coal in 2007-08, surpassing the previous record of 38.52 million tonnes in 2006-07.
Iron ore exports through the port went up to 12.96 million tonnes in 2007-08 from 11.88 million tonnes in 2006-07.
'In 2008-09, we expected around 15 million tonnes of iron ore would be exported,' said Mishra. But the export figures in the last two months have cast shadows on this expectation, he added.