MSTC Limited
MSTC Limited is an Indian government-controlled public-sector enterprise providing electronic auction, procurement, sales, and related digital-marketplace services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
MSTC Limited, formerly known as Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited, is a central public-sector undertaking under the administrative control of India's Ministry of Steel. Incorporated on 9 September 1964, it was originally established as a regulatory body connected with the export of scrap. Over time, the company developed from a specialized metals-trading organization into a diversified provider of electronic commerce and transaction-management services for government agencies, public-sector enterprises, businesses, and other institutional clients. MSTC's core activities include electronic auctions, electronic procurement, high-sea sales, electronic sales, and software services supporting online allocation and selection processes. Its platforms have been used for the sale or allocation of commodities and other assets, including coal, iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore, baryte, petroleum coke, forest products, red sanders wood, coal mine blocks, regasified liquefied natural gas, and marginal oil fields. The company has also developed digital systems for public-sector programs, including an online draw platform for LPG distributorships and electronic bidding systems associated with electricity-distribution initiatives. The business expanded its role as a public digital-marketplace operator during the 2000s and 2010s. It received Miniratna Category-II status in 2002 and Miniratna Category-I status in 2005. Its electronic-auction activity widened beyond scrap and metals into coal, minerals, natural resources, agricultural produce, and government-linked allocations. In 2017, MSTC developed ERAKAM, an electronic auction platform intended for agricultural produce. The company also participated in the development of online platforms for electricity-sector schemes and a proposed English-auction system for the divestment of state-owned entities. MSTC is headquartered in Kolkata and maintains regional offices in Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, together with branch or site offices in multiple Indian cities. Its operations are primarily domestic and are closely connected with public-sector asset disposal, commodity marketing, procurement, and digital tendering. As reported in the reference material, the Government of India held 64.75% of the company's shares. The company had 344 employees as of 31 March 2020. MSTC has also been associated with recycling infrastructure through CERO, a joint venture with Mahindra Accelo. CERO established an automobile-shredding facility in Greater Noida for processing end-of-life vehicles and other white goods into shredded scrap used as a raw material by secondary steel producers. MSTC's former subsidiary Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited was disinvested in 2025 to Japan's Konoike Transport Co. Ltd. for Rs. 320 crore, according to the supplied reference material. The company reported a net profit of Rs. 112.95 crore for fiscal year 2020-21. For the year ended 31 March 2023, the supplied material reports total income of Rs. 879.16 crore and net profit of approximately Rs. 241.96 crore, compared with total income of Rs. 1,123.32 crore and net profit of approximately Rs. 199.10 crore for the year ended 31 March 2022. MSTC's present identity is therefore that of a government-controlled Indian digital-commerce and auction-services enterprise whose historic expertise in metals and scrap has been applied to a much broader range of public-sector and institutional transactions.
History
MSTC Limited was incorporated on 9 September 1964 as Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited. Its initial role was associated with regulating the export of scrap, reflecting India's policy interest in managing metal resources and supporting the steel sector. In 1982, it became an independent company under the Ministry of Steel. This change gave MSTC a broader institutional role within India's public-sector metals and materials economy. During the early 2000s, MSTC began developing the electronic-auction capabilities that would become central to its modern business. It received Miniratna Category-II status in 2002 and Miniratna Category-I status in 2005. In 2004, it started auctioning coal, extending its activities beyond its earlier scrap-related focus. Electronic auctioning of manganese ore began in 2007, followed by iron ore in Karnataka and human hair in 2011. In 2012, the company added chrome ore, baryte, and raw petroleum coke to its auction portfolio. MSTC continued to broaden the range of assets and commodities handled through its platforms. In 2013, it began electronic auctioning of forest products. In 2014, it added iron ore in Goa and red sanders wood in Andhra Pradesh. In 2015, its work expanded to coal mine blocks and regasified liquefied natural gas. These developments established MSTC as a transaction platform for government-controlled natural resources and other institutional assets rather than solely as a metals-trading body. The company also applied its technology to public administration and infrastructure programs. In 2016, MSTC developed electronic-bidding platforms connected with the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and the Integrated Power Development Scheme. It also worked on the DEEP platform and on allocation processes for marginal oil fields. In 2017, it developed ERAKAM, an electronic auction platform designed to support the sale of agricultural produce. In 2018, MSTC developed software for conducting online draws for LPG distributorships operated through state-owned oil-marketing companies. The company was also reported to be developing an English-auction portal for the divestment of state-owned entities. MSTC's organizational footprint grew across India. Its corporate headquarters were established in Kolkata, with regional offices in Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Branch or site offices were reported in cities including Ranchi, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Raipur, Jaipur, Vadodara, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Patna. This network supported the company's work with public bodies and commercial participants across multiple commodities and regions. The company also participated in the development of recycling infrastructure. CERO, a joint venture between MSTC and Mahindra Accelo, established an automobile-shredding plant in Greater Noida. The facility was designed to process end-of-life vehicles and other white goods into shredded scrap, an important input for secondary steel production. This initiative connected MSTC's historic scrap expertise with India's emerging vehicle-recycling and circular-economy infrastructure. MSTC remained majority controlled by the Government of India, which held 64.75% of its shares according to the supplied reference material. The company reported 344 employees as of 31 March 2020. Its reported net profit was Rs. 112.95 crore in fiscal year 2020-21. For the year ended 31 March 2023, the supplied material gives total income of Rs. 879.16 crore and net profit of approximately Rs. 241.96 crore, compared with total income of Rs. 1,123.32 crore and net profit of approximately Rs. 199.10 crore in the preceding year. In 2025, Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited, an MSTC subsidiary, was disinvested to Konoike Transport Co. Ltd. for Rs. 320 crore. MSTC's historical development thus traces a transition from a government scrap-export body to a multi-sector electronic auction, procurement, asset-disposal, and recycling-services enterprise.
- 2025
Disinvestment of Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited
[1]MSTC's subsidiary Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited was disinvested to Konoike Transport Co. Ltd. for Rs. 320 crore, according to the supplied reference material.
- 2018
Develops LPG distributorship draw software
[1]MSTC developed software for online draws used in LPG distributorship selection by state-owned oil-marketing companies.
- 2017
Launches ERAKAM development
[1]MSTC developed ERAKAM as an electronic auction platform for agricultural produce.
- 2016
Develops public-sector electronic-bidding platforms
[1]The company developed e-bidding systems associated with DDUGJY, IPDS, DEEP, and marginal oil-field allocation.
- 2015
Expands to coal blocks and regasified LNG
[1]MSTC began handling e-auctions of coal mine blocks and regasified liquefied natural gas.
- 2014
Adds Goa iron ore and Andhra Pradesh red sanders
[1]The company began e-auctions for iron ore in Goa and red sanders wood in Andhra Pradesh.
- 2013
Begins forest-product e-auctions
[1]MSTC started electronic auctions for forest products.
- 2012
Adds additional minerals and petroleum coke
[1]The auction portfolio expanded to chrome ore, baryte, and raw petroleum coke.
- 2011
Expands to iron ore and human hair
[1]MSTC began e-auctions for iron ore in Karnataka and for human hair.
- 2007
Adds manganese-ore e-auctions
[1]The company began electronic auctions for manganese ore.
Products and positioning
A government-controlled Indian digital-marketplace and electronic-auction specialist supporting public-sector asset sales, procurement, commodity allocation, and recycling-related transactions.
Digital marketplace services
Electronic auction services
MSTC operates electronic-auction services for government bodies, public-sector enterprises, and institutional sellers. The platforms have supported transactions involving scrap, coal, iron ore, other minerals, forest products, petroleum coke, agricultural produce, energy resources, and public assets. The service combines online bidder participation with auction administration and transaction processing.
Procurement technology
Electronic procurement
MSTC provides electronic procurement capabilities for organizations that need to conduct structured digital purchasing and tendering processes. Its role is primarily institutional and public-sector oriented, supporting online participation, bidding, and procurement administration rather than consumer retail.
Commodity transaction services
High-sea sales and electronic sales
High-sea sales and electronic-sales services form part of MSTC's broader transaction portfolio. These services allow institutional sellers and buyers to use digital systems for the sale or transfer of commodities and other goods, extending the company beyond conventional auction-only activity.
Agricultural auction platform · 2017
ERAKAM
ERAKAM is an electronic auction platform developed by MSTC to support the sale of agricultural produce. It illustrates the company's application of online auction infrastructure to sectors outside metals, mining, and industrial materials.
Government allocation software · 2018
Online LPG Distributorship Draw Software
MSTC developed software to conduct online draws for LPG distributorship schemes operated by state-run oil-marketing companies in India. The system was intended to digitize and administer a public selection process rather than to serve as a consumer product.
Vehicle recycling
CERO
CERO is a joint venture between MSTC and Mahindra Accelo. It established an automobile-shredding plant in Greater Noida for processing end-of-life vehicles and other white goods into shredded scrap used by secondary steel producers.
Brand decisions
2025
Disinvestment of Ferro Scrap Nigam LimitedM&ABackground
Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited was an MSTC subsidiary operating in the scrap-processing sector.
Action taken
The subsidiary was disinvested to Konoike Transport Co. Ltd. for Rs. 320 crore, according to the supplied reference material.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced MSTC's direct ownership of Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited and transferred the subsidiary to a Japanese strategic buyer.
Disinvestment consideration. Rs. 320 crore (2025)
2018
Online LPG distributorship draw softwareProduct launchBackground
State-owned Indian oil-marketing companies required an online mechanism for conducting LPG distributorship selection draws.
Action taken
MSTC developed software to administer the online draw process.
Aftermath
The project demonstrated MSTC's ability to provide specialized digital systems for public-sector allocation programs.
2017
Development of ERAKAMProduct launchBackground
MSTC sought to apply its electronic-auction capabilities to agricultural produce.
Action taken
The company developed ERAKAM as an online auction platform for agricultural commodities.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened MSTC's digital-marketplace scope beyond metals, mining, and industrial materials.
2015
Expansion into coal blocks and regasified LNG auctionsStrategyBackground
MSTC had progressively expanded its electronic-auction activity from scrap and metals into a wider range of natural resources and public assets.
Action taken
The company added coal mine blocks and regasified liquefied natural gas to the assets handled through its auction services.
Aftermath
This reinforced MSTC's position as a multi-sector public-asset auction and transaction platform.
Recent events
- 2025
Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited disinvestment[1]
M&A
MSTC's subsidiary Ferro Scrap Nigam Limited was disinvested to Konoike Transport Co. Ltd. for Rs. 320 crore, according to the supplied reference material.
- 2023
MSTC reports fiscal 2022-23 income and profit[1]
Other
For the year ended 31 March 2023, MSTC reported total income of Rs. 879.16 crore and net profit of approximately Rs. 241.96 crore, according to the supplied reference material.
- 2021
MSTC reports fiscal 2020-21 net profit of Rs. 112.95 crore[1]
Other
The supplied reference material states that MSTC reported a net profit of Rs. 112.95 crore for the fiscal year ended in 2020-21.
Sources1 sources
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