Iron-ore production in India's western state of Goa is expected to resume in the first quarter of next year, a senior industry executive said Tuesday, which could help boost the country's exports of the mineral and add pressure on global prices.

S. Sridhar, executive director of the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association, said the state government plans to renew at least 27 mining licenses by mid-October and give other procedural clearances in the months thereafter.

"So it is possible that iron ore mining will resume in the January-March quarter," he said in an interview.

A resumption of mining in Goa could give a significant boost to India's iron-ore exports. Two years ago, the state accounted for about 60% of the country's total iron-ore exports of about 62 million tons. But the exports from the state stopped after the country's top court in 2012 ordered a blanket ban on mining in the state due to environmental concerns.

In April, the Supreme Court lifted the ban, allowing iron-ore mining in the state to resume subject to a maximum of 20 million metric tons each year. Following the court order, the state government has begun preparations to renew licenses of operators.

Renewed exports of the mineral by India could also pile up pressure on global iron ore prices, which have declined about 30% this year due to weak demand from China.

Two years ago, India was the world's third-largest iron-ore exporter after Australia and Brazil.