India's Iron Ore Output Surges by 9.7% to 79MT in Q1, Signaling Strong Sector Growth

India's iron ore production increased by 9.7% to 79 million tonnes (MT) in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, according to government data released on Thursday. This is an increase from 72 MT in the same period last year, based on provisional figures.

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Production of key minerals like iron ore and limestone has shown significant growth in Q1 of FY 2024-25, following record production levels in FY 2023-24. The mines ministry highlighted this trend in a recent statement.

Growth in Non-Ferrous Metals

In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium production rose by 1.2% to 10.43 lakh tonnes (LT) from 10.28 LT during the same period last year. India ranks as the second-largest aluminium producer globally.

The country's limestone production also saw an increase, growing by 1.8% to 116 MT in the first quarter of 2024-25, up from 114 MT in the April-June period of 2023-24.

Robust Demand Conditions

The continued growth in iron ore and limestone production reflects strong demand conditions in user industries such as steel and cement. The mines ministry's statement noted that these trends indicate ongoing robust economic activity in sectors like energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery.

Manganese ore production also saw a rise, increasing by 11% to 1.0 MT in the April-June period of FY25 from 0.9 MT over the corresponding period of the previous year.

India is not only a major player in aluminium but also ranks third in lime production and fourth in iron ore production worldwide.

The statement concluded that the growth trends in these minerals point towards continued strong economic activity across various user sectors.