TFP Bureau, New Delhi, May 6, 2025: India has witnessed a record-breaking year in mining production for FY 2024-25, with significant growth in key minerals and non-ferrous metals. According to provisional data, the production of iron ore, manganese, bauxite, lead concentrate, and various non-ferrous metals has surged, reflecting the country’s strong economic momentum.
Iron ore production, which constitutes 70% of total MCDR mineral production by value, reached a record 289 million metric tons (MMT) in FY 2024-25, surpassing the previous record of 277 MMT set in FY 2023-24. This marks a 4.3% increase, highlighting continued demand for the mineral, especially in the steel industry.
Manganese ore also saw impressive growth, increasing by 11.8% from 3.4 MMT in FY 2023-24 to 3.8 MMT in FY 2024-25. Bauxite production, critical for aluminium production, rose by 2.9%, reaching 24.7 MMT, up from 24 MMT in the previous year. Lead concentrate production saw a modest but steady rise of 3.1%, increasing from 381 thousand tonnes (THT) to 393 THT.
In the non-ferrous metals sector, primary aluminium production grew from 41.6 lakh tons (LT) in FY 2023-24 to 42 LT in FY 2024-25, setting a new record. Refined copper production also saw a strong 12.6% growth, increasing from 5.09 LT to 5.73 LT.
India remains a global leader in the mining sector, ranking as the second-largest producer of aluminium, one of the top-10 producers of refined copper, and the fourth-largest producer of iron ore. The strong growth in iron ore production mirrors robust demand in steel manufacturing, while the rise in aluminium and copper production reflects steady economic activity across critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery.
This continued growth trend in mining underscores India’s role as a key player in the global minerals market and signals ongoing economic development, with increasing demand from industries essential to the country’s industrial and infrastructural expansion.
