Indian Railways (IR) has announced a forecast indicating a 9% decline in iron ore freight traffic to domestic steel mills for the fiscal year 2024-25, projecting a total of 91.84 million metric tons. In contrast, iron ore transportation for export is expected to surge by 87%, reaching approximately 15.48 million metric tons. This shift raises concerns for the domestic steel industry, which may face increased reliance on imported finished products to meet growing local demand, as stated by government officials on September 27, 20246.