India: PELLEX rises by INR 250/t as raw material shortage lifts demand

Tight availability of lumps and fines pushes up raw material costs. Stronger sponge iron and billet demand supports pellet buying

PELLEX, bi-weekly domestic pellet (Fe 63%) index for Raipur, increased by INR 250/t to INR 10,450/t ($109/t) DAP on 18 August 2026 from INR 10,200/t on 14 August. The rise was primarily driven by a shortage of iron ore lumps and fines, which pushed up sponge iron and billet