Has India’s Mineral Production Reached New Heights in 2024-25?

Synopsis
Discover how India's mineral production has skyrocketed in FY 2024-25, setting new records across key sectors. This article explores the impressive growth in iron ore, bauxite, and more, highlighting the impact on various industries and the nation's economy.
Key Takeaways
- Iron ore production hit 289 MMT with a 4.3% growth.
- Manganese ore saw an 11.8% increase to 3.8 MMT.
- Bauxite production rose to 24.7 MMT, a 2.9% growth.
- Primary aluminum production reached 42 LT.
- Refined copper production increased by 12.6%.
- India ranks as the fourth-largest iron ore producer worldwide.
New Delhi, May 5 (NationPress) The nation's mineral output has seen significant growth in FY 2024-25, particularly in vital minerals such as iron ore, manganese ore, bauxite, and lead. This surge follows an impressive production year in FY 2023-24, as reported by the Ministry of Mines on Monday.
The production of iron ore, which constitutes 70% of the total mineral production value, rose to 289 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY 2024-25, surpassing the previous record of 277 MMT set in FY 2023-24, indicating a 4.3% growth.
Moreover, manganese ore production has exceeded the prior record of 3.4 MMT from FY 2023-24, witnessing an impressive 11.8% increase to 3.8 MMT in FY 2024-25.
The output of bauxite has grown by 2.9%, reaching 24.7 MMT this fiscal year, up from 24 MMT last year. Additionally, production of lead concentrate rose from 381 thousand tonnes (THT) to 393 THT, marking a 3.1% increase.
In the realm of non-ferrous metals, primary aluminum production has also achieved a new record, climbing from 41.6 lakh ton (LT) in FY 2023-24 to 42 LT in FY 2024-25. Concurrently, refined copper production surged by 12.6%, rising from 5.09 LT to 5.73 LT in the same period.
India stands as the world’s second-largest producer of aluminium, among the top ten refined copper producers, and the fourth-largest producer of iron ore. The ongoing increase in iron ore production reflects strong demand in the steel industry, which is a key consumer of these metals.
Alongside the growth in aluminium and copper, these trends indicate robust economic activity in critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery, as highlighted in the statement.