The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 1, 2025
India’s mineral and non-ferrous metal sectors have maintained their momentum of robust growth during FY 2024-25 (April-November 2024), building on record production levels achieved in the previous fiscal year. The nation continues to solidify its position as a global leader in mineral production, driven by strong demand across core industries like steel, energy, infrastructure, and automotive.
Iron ore, which accounts for 69% of the total value of MCDR mineral production, remains a cornerstone of the sector. Production rose by 3% to 182.6 million metric tonnes (MMT) during the April-November period in FY 2024-25, compared to 177.2 MMT in the same period last year. The previous fiscal year saw a record iron ore output of 274 MMT, underscoring the sector’s robust growth trajectory.
Other key minerals also demonstrated significant production increases. Manganese ore production surged by 9.5% to 2.3 MMT from 2.1 MMT, while chromite output grew by 11.1% to 2.0 MMT, up from 1.8 MMT during the corresponding period in FY 2023-24. Meanwhile, bauxite production climbed by 8.9%, reaching 15.9 MMT compared to 14.6 MMT in the previous fiscal period.
The non-ferrous metal sector also displayed notable growth. Primary aluminium production increased by 1.1%, reaching 27.91 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25 (April-November), up from 27.60 LT during the same period last year. Refined copper production exhibited an impressive 9.2% growth, rising from 3.16 LT to 3.45 LT.
India’s global standing in mineral and metal production remains formidable. The country ranks as the second-largest producer of aluminium, among the top 10 in refined copper production, and the fourth-largest producer of iron ore worldwide. This sustained growth in output reflects robust demand from user industries, particularly in steel manufacturing, which has been a key driver for iron ore. Additionally, increased aluminium and copper production highlights strong activity in sectors like energy, infrastructure, construction, and automotive.
