India's Mineral Output Surges in Q1 FY 2024-25

India's iron ore production increased by 9.7% to 79 MT in the first quarter of the fiscal year. Limestone and manganese ore productions also saw growth. This rise in production reflects robust demand across steel, cement, energy, and infrastructure sectors, pointing to strong economic activity.

India's iron ore production surged by 9.7% to 79 million tonnes (MT) in the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year, according to government data released on Thursday.

The provisional data indicated that iron ore output stood at 72 MT in the same period last year. Meanwhile, limestone production grew by 1.8% to 116 MT in the first quarter of 2024-25, up from 114 MT in the corresponding period of 2023-24, according to the Ministry of Mines.

Additionally, manganese ore production increased by 11% to 1.0 MT in April-June of FY25, a rise from 0.9 MT in the previous year. Primary aluminium production in the non-ferrous metal sector also showed growth, with a 1.2% increase to 10.43 lakh tonnes (LT) compared to 10.28 LT in the year-ago period. India continues to hold a significant position globally, being the second largest aluminium producer, third largest lime producer, and fourth largest iron ore producer.

The continued growth in production of key minerals like iron ore and limestone reflects the robust demand in user industries such as steel and cement. This trend, along with growth in aluminium production, indicates strong economic activity within energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery sectors.

(With inputs from agencies.)