• India's mineral production sector has seen robust growth in the first half of FY25, led by iron ore.
• Iron ore production increased by 5.5%, reflecting strong demand in the steel industry.
• Other minerals like manganese ore and aluminium also saw production increases, indicating strong economic activity in various sectors.
• This growth aligns with India's broader economic objectives of achieving self-reliance and reducing dependency on imports.

India's mineral production sector has been experiencing a robust growth in the first half of the current fiscal year (FY25), with iron ore leading the pack. This growth follows record production levels in the last fiscal (FY24), according to the Ministry of Mines data. Iron ore accounts for about 70 per cent of the total Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) mineral production by value. The production of iron ore was 274 million metric tonnes (MMTs) in FY 2023-24.

The provisional data shows that the production of iron ore has increased from 128 MMT in FY 2023-24 (April-September period) to 135 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-September), showing a healthy 5.5 per cent growth. This growth in production reflects the robust demand conditions in the user industry, particularly steel.

In addition to iron ore, the production of manganese ore has also seen a rise by 6.2 per cent to 1.7 MMT in FY 2024-25 (April-September) from 1.6 MMT during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Key Minerals Drive Economic Activity

This growth trend points towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.

In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production in FY 2024-25 (April-September) posted a growth of 1.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year, increasing to 20.90 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-September) from 20.66 LT in FY 2023-24.

During the same comparative period, refined copper production has grown by 4.6 per cent from 2.39 LT to 2.50 LT. India is the second largest aluminium producer, among the top 10 producers in refined copper and the fourth largest iron ore producer in the world. The country is also the third-largest lime producer in the world.

The increased production capacity aligns with India's broader economic objectives of achieving self-reliance and reducing dependency on imports.

Government Policies and Initiatives

The robust growth in the production of key minerals in India is a testament to the country's rich mineral resources and the government's efforts to harness them effectively. The growth in the production of key minerals like iron ore, manganese ore, and aluminium is a positive sign for the Indian economy, indicating strong economic activity in various sectors.

The growth in the production of these key minerals is also a reflection of the strong demand conditions in the user industries. For instance, the growth in iron ore production reflects the robust demand conditions in the steel industry. Similarly, the growth in aluminium and copper production points towards strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery.

The growth in the production of these key minerals is also a testament to the effectiveness of the government's policies and initiatives aimed at promoting mineral production in the country. The government's focus on mineral conservation and development has played a crucial role in this regard.