TFP Bureau, New Delhi, 30 March 2025: India’s mineral and non-ferrous metal production has continued to show impressive growth during the first eleven months of FY 2024-25 (April-February), building on the record achievements of FY 2023-24. Key minerals like iron ore, manganese, bauxite, and lead concentrate, alongside non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper, have seen substantial production increases, underlining the country’s strong position in global mineral and metal markets.
Iron Ore and Key Minerals Continue Strong Growth
Iron ore, which constitutes 70% of India’s total mineral production by value, has witnessed a healthy 4.4% increase in production, rising from 252 million metric tonnes (MMT) during the same period in FY 2023-24 to 263 MMT in FY 2024-25. This growth reflects the sustained demand from the steel industry, an essential sector for infrastructure and construction.
In addition to iron ore, other key minerals have shown strong growth. Manganese ore production has surged by 12.8%, reaching 3.4 MMT in FY 2024-25 compared to 3.0 MMT in the previous year. Bauxite production has grown by 3.6%, reaching 22.7 MMT in FY 2024-25, up from 21.9 MMT. Lead concentrate production also saw a modest rise of 3.5%, increasing to 352 thousand tonnes (THT) from 340 THT during the same period last year.
Non-Ferrous Metals Reflect Healthy Growth
The non-ferrous metal sector also demonstrated positive growth, with primary aluminium production rising by 0.9%, reaching 38.36 lakh tonnes (LT) in FY 2024-25, up from 38.00 LT in the previous year. Refined copper production saw a stronger growth of 7.1%, increasing from 4.64 LT to 4.97 LT.
India is now the second-largest producer of aluminium globally, ranks among the top-10 producers of refined copper, and is the fourth-largest producer of iron ore in the world. These figures indicate not only the country’s growth in the production of essential raw materials but also reflect the continuing demand across critical industries like energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery.
Growth Trends Indicate Sustained Economic Activity
The ongoing growth in the production of iron ore, along with increases in aluminium and copper, signals a robust economic environment, with strong demand from industries that rely heavily on these materials. This continued growth in mineral and metal production highlights India’s key role in the global supply chain and points towards a sustained period of industrial activity and infrastructure development.
