The production of several key minerals in India has continued to show robust growth in the first half of FY 2024-25 (April-October), following record production levels in FY 2023-24.

Iron ore, which constitutes 69% of the total mineral production by value under the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), has seen significant growth. Production reached 274 million metric tonnes (MMT) in FY 2023-24, and provisional data for the current fiscal year shows a 4.1% increase, with production rising from 152.1 MMT in April-October 2023 to 158.4 MMT in the same period of FY 2024-25.

Other minerals have also posted strong growth. Manganese ore production grew by 11.1%, rising to 2.0 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-October) from 1.8 MMT in the corresponding period of FY 2023-24. Similarly, bauxite production increased by 11.3%, reaching 13.8 MMT in the current fiscal year compared to 12.4 MMT in FY 2023-24.

In the non-ferrous metal sector, India’s primary aluminium production saw a modest 1.2% increase, rising to 24.46 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-October) from 24.17 LT in the same period last year. Refined copper production saw a more notable 6.0% growth, climbing from 2.83 LT to 3.00 LT.

India continues to be a major player in the global minerals market, ranking as the second-largest aluminium producer, one of the top ten producers of refined copper, and the fourth-largest iron ore producer in the world. The ongoing growth in iron ore production reflects strong demand, particularly from the steel industry.

The rise in production of aluminium and copper further indicates robust economic activity in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery. This trend highlights India’s continued economic resilience and its crucial role in the global minerals supply chain.