According to a statement released by the government on Friday, the country’s iron ore production has experienced a notable increase of 8.9 percent, reaching a total of 98 million tonnes (MT) during the first four months of the current fiscal year. This marks a substantial rise from the 90 MT recorded in the same period of the previous fiscal year, based on provisional data provided.
In addition to the rise in iron ore output, there has been a slight increase in the production of limestone. During the April-July period, limestone production rose marginally by 0.7 percent, reaching 150 MT compared to 149 MT during the corresponding period of the previous year, as reported by the Ministry of Mines. This modest growth underscores a steady demand for limestone, which is a crucial raw material in various industrial processes.
Furthermore, manganese ore production has seen a significant boost of 18.2 percent, amounting to 1.3 MT during the April-July period of the fiscal year 2024-25. This is an increase from the 1.1 MT produced in the same period of the previous financial year. The sharp rise in manganese ore production highlights the growing demand in industries that rely on this critical mineral.
The sustained increase in the production of both iron ore and limestone during the current fiscal year is indicative of robust demand in key user industries such as steel and cement. These materials are fundamental to the construction and manufacturing sectors, suggesting that the demand conditions in these industries remain strong.
India’s position in the global minerals industry is significant, as it is recognized as the second-largest producer of aluminium, the third-largest producer of lime, and the fourth-largest producer of iron ore in the world. These rankings underscore the country’s critical role in the global supply chain for these essential materials.
In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production has also experienced growth. For the fiscal year 2024-25 (April-July), there has been a 1.3 percent increase in aluminium production, rising to 13.95 lakh tonnes (LT) from 13.77 LT in the same period of the previous year. This growth in aluminium production aligns with the overall positive trends observed in the minerals sector.
The combination of increased production in iron ore, limestone, and aluminium points to ongoing strong economic activity within key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery. The Ministry of Mines has highlighted that these growth trends reflect the continued vitality and expansion of user industries, contributing to a robust and dynamic economic environment.
