KIOCL Limited is a flagship company under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India, with Miniratna status. The company was formerly known as Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited and was incorporated in 1976, with its headquarters in Bengaluru, India. KIOCL was established in 1976 as a 100% Export Oriented Unit and is primarily engaged in the business of Iron Ore Mining Beneficiation with its Head Office in Bangalore and pelletisation and pig iron plant units in Mangalore.
KIOCL is an export-oriented unit with expertise in iron ore mining, filtration technology, and the production of high-quality pellets. The company is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Steel and is engaged in the mining and beneficiation of iron ore and production of pellets. KIOCL is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in India and its popular brands include KIOCL Pellets, KIOCL High Grade Iron Ore Concentrate, KIOCL Sponge Iron, KIOCL Pig Iron and KIOCL Ferro Alloys.
KIOCL Limited engages in the iron ore mining, beneficiation, and production of pellets in India and internationally, operating through two segments: Pellet and Pig Iron. The company produces and sells iron ore pellets and pig iron, while also offering operation and maintenance services, as well as mineral exploration services.
The company is primarily engaged in the business of iron ore mining, beneficiation and production of high-quality pellets, and has diversified into operation and maintenance (O&M) services and mineral exploration pertaining to its various core areas of expertise. Its products include iron ore pellet and pig iron castings, with services engaged in O&M Projects, which are followed by O&M of Beneficiation and Pellet Plant at Donimalai, O&M of Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant (COB) at Kaliapani and Mineral Exploration Works.
The company's pellets have been used in blast furnaces of steel mills in Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, and a host of other countries. Its product portfolio includes High Grade Iron Ore Concentrate, High Grade Iron Ore Pellets, Sponge Iron, Pig Iron, Ferro Alloys, and Engineering Services.
KIOCL has faced financial challenges in recent periods. On May 28, 2025, KIOCL reported FY25 audited loss of ₹20,458 lakhs, with the auditor giving an unmodified opinion while noting plant shutdown. For Q4 FY25, the company reported revenue of ₹246.71 Crore and a net loss of ₹36.86 Crore as of March 2025.
KIOCL's standalone net sales for March 2025 fell 33.78% year-on-year to ₹246.46 Crore, with a quarterly net loss of ₹36.86 Crore and EBITDA turning negative at ₹25.03 Crore. In 2023, KIOCL's revenue was ₹18.54 billion, an increase of 20.15% compared to the previous year's ₹15.43 billion, while losses were -₹833.05 million, 14.70% less than in 2022.
Key Financial Metrics:
- Revenue: ₹246.71 Crore (Q4 FY25)
- Net Loss: ₹36.86 Crore (Q4 FY25)
- FY25 Audited Loss: ₹20,458 lakhs
- EBITDA: Negative ₹25.03 Crore (Q4 FY25)
The promoter of KIOCL Ltd is the President of India, who owns 99.03% of the total equity. Promoter holding in KIOCL Ltd has remained at 99.03% as of March 2025. The chairman and managing director of the company is Ganti Venkat Kiran.
The company's market capitalization stands at ₹17,232.78 Crore as of recent trading. As per Value Research classification, KIOCL is categorized as a Mid Cap company. The stock is part of various indices including BSE 500, BSE PSU, BSE SmallCap, BSE CPSE, BSE Allcap, BSE Commodities, BSE 250 SmallCap Index, and BSE 400 MidSmallCap Index.
The company has faced operational challenges in recent years. KIOCL has delivered poor sales growth of -21.2% over the past five years and has a low return on equity of -6.62% over the last 3 years. The stock has seen a decline of 20.58% over the last six months and 34.02% over the past year.
However, there are some positive operational improvements. Debtor days have improved from 33.8 to 16.4 days, and the company's working capital requirements have reduced from 122 days to 48.0 days. The company announced the resumption of operations at its Pellet Plant, which led to a significant surge in its share price.
KIOCL Limited remains a significant player in India's iron ore and pellets industry, backed by government ownership and strategic importance to the steel sector. While facing current financial challenges, the company's expertise in iron ore mining and pellet production, combined with its export capabilities and diversified service offerings, positions it as a key contributor to India's steel and mining ecosystem.
