Mining Sector Achieves Unprecedented Milestone
India's mining sector has achieved a significant milestonewith iron ore production touching an all-time high of 289 million metric tonsin the fiscal year 2024-25. This represents a 4.3% increase compared to theprevious record of 277 million metric tons set in FY 2023-24, according toofficial data released by the Ministry of Mines. The achievement underscoresIndia's growing prominence in the global minerals market and reflects robustdemand from the domestic steel industry.
Driving Factors Behind Record Production
Several key factors have contributed to this exceptionalperformance in iron ore extraction. According to ministry officials, the recordproduction stems from a combination of increased demand from both domestic andinternational markets, policy stability supporting the mining sector, andsignificantly improved operational capacity. The continued growth in productionreflects the robust demand conditions in the steel industry, which remains theprimary consumer of iron ore in India. This growth trajectory has beenmaintained despite global economic uncertainties.
Broader Mineral Production Success Story
The success story extends beyond iron ore, with severalother minerals also registering impressive growth. Manganese ore productionreached 3.8 million metric tons in FY 2024-25, marking an 11.8% jump from theprevious year's 3.4 million metric tons. Primary aluminum production increasedmarginally from 41.6 lakh tons to 42 lakh tons, while refined copper productionsaw a substantial growth of 12.6%, rising from 5.09 lakh tons to 5.73 lakh tonsduring the same period. This broad-based growth indicates strong industrialdemand across multiple sectors.
Quarterly Performance Indicators
The record annual performance was built on strong quarterlyresults throughout the fiscal year. In the first quarter alone, India producedapproximately 79 million tons of iron ore, establishing a solid foundation forthe year's record output. The cumulative production for the first ten months(April 2024-January 2025) reached 236 million tons, compared to 228 milliontons during the same period in the previous fiscal year, indicating consistentgrowth momentum throughout the year.
Key Takeaways:
• India's iron ore production reached a record 289 millionmetric tons in FY 2024-25, growing 4.3% year-on-year and cementing thecountry's position as the world's fourth-largest producer.
• Other minerals also showed impressive growth, withmanganese ore up 11.8% and refined copper production increasing by 12.6%,indicating broad-based expansion across India's mining sector.]
• The strong performance reflects robust demand conditionsin key industries, improved operational capacity, and policy stabilitysupporting the mining sector.
