India's Key Mineral Production Continues Strong Growth in FY 2024-25

The production of key minerals in India has shown remarkable growth during the financial year (FY) 2024-25 (April-February), following record levels in FY 2023-24. This growth underscores the robust demand for essential minerals, especially in sectors such as steel, energy, infrastructure, and construction.

Iron Ore: The Backbone of India's Mineral Production

Iron ore remains the dominant mineral, accounting for 70% of the total value of mineral production regulated under the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR). In FY 2023-24, iron ore production reached an impressive 274 million metric tonnes (MMT). According to provisional data, production has increased from 252 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-February) to 263 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-February), marking a steady growth of 4.4%. This growth signals continued strong demand from the steel industry.

Other Key Minerals Show Significant Growth

Apart from iron ore, several other minerals have witnessed notable increases in production:

• Manganese Ore: Production rose by 12.8%, reaching 3.4 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-February) compared to 3.0 MMT in the same period of the previous year.

• Bauxite: Production grew by 3.6%, increasing from 21.9 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-February) to 22.7 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-February).

• Lead Concentrate: Production climbed by 3.5%, rising to 352 thousand tonnes (THT) in FY 2024-25 (April-February) from 340 THT in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Growth in Non-Ferrous Metals Sector

The non-ferrous metals sector also experienced a boost in production:

• Primary Aluminium: Production increased by 0.9%, reaching 38.36 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-February) compared to 38.00 LT in the previous year.

• Refined Copper: Production saw a substantial rise of 7.1%, growing from 4.64 LT in FY 2023-24 (April-February) to 4.97 LT in FY 2024-25 (April-February).

India’s Position in the Global Mining Industry

India continues to hold a strong position in the global mining sector:

• 2nd largest producer of aluminium

• Among the top 10 producers of refined copper

• 4th largest iron ore producer in the world

The sustained growth in iron ore production highlights the resilience of the steel industry and its expanding role in India's economic development. Additionally, rising production levels in aluminium and copper reinforce the country's industrial momentum, supporting key sectors like construction, automotive, machinery, and energy.

The continued expansion in mineral production is a positive indicator of India's robust economic activity and its strategic role in global commodity markets. With increasing demand across multiple industries, the country's mining sector is poised for further growth in the coming years.