India’s Mineral Production Soars: Iron Ore, Limestone, and Manganese Lead the Way
New Delhi [India], August 1: The Ministry of Mines has reported strong growth in the production of key minerals in the first quarter of FY 2024-25.
Iron Ore Production
Iron ore production increased by 9.7%, rising from 72 million metric tons (MMT) in the first quarter of FY 2023-24 to 79 MMT in the same period of FY 2024-25.
Limestone Production
Limestone production grew by 1.8%, from 114 MMT to 116 MMT over the same period.
Manganese Ore Production
Manganese ore production saw an impressive rise of 11%, climbing from 0.9 MMT to 1.0 MMT.
Annual Production Figures
In FY 2023-24, iron ore production reached 275 MMT, while limestone production hit 450 MMT. These two minerals accounted for approximately 80% of the total mineral production by value.
Non-Ferrous Metal Sector
Primary aluminium production in the first quarter of FY 2024-25 increased by 1.2%, from 10.28 lakh tons (LT) to 10.43 LT.
Global Standing
India is the second-largest producer of aluminium, the third-largest producer of limestone, and the fourth-largest producer of iron ore globally.
Economic Impact
The growth in mineral production indicates robust demand in key industries such as steel, cement, energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery. These trends reflect ongoing economic momentum and increasing demand for raw materials in India’s industrial sectors.
Doubts Revealed
Ministry of Mines -: The Ministry of Mines is a part of the Indian government that looks after the mining and production of minerals in the country.
FY 2024-25 -: FY stands for Fiscal Year, which is a one-year period used for accounting and budgeting. FY 2024-25 means the financial year starting from April 2024 to March 2025.
Iron ore -: Iron ore is a type of rock that contains iron, which is used to make steel. Steel is used in many things like buildings, cars, and machines.
Limestone -: Limestone is a type of rock that is used to make cement, which is an important material for building houses and roads.
Manganese -: Manganese is a metal used to make steel stronger and is also used in batteries.
Metric tons -: A metric ton is a unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms. It is used to measure large quantities of materials.
Non-ferrous metal -: Non-ferrous metals are metals that do not contain iron. Examples include aluminium, copper, and zinc.
Primary aluminium -: Primary aluminium is aluminium that is made directly from raw materials, not recycled. It is used in things like cans, airplanes, and kitchen foil.
Economic activity -: Economic activity refers to the production, buying, and selling of goods and services. High economic activity means people are making and buying a lot of things.
Steel -: Steel is a strong metal made from iron and other materials. It is used in construction, making cars, and many other things.
Cement -: Cement is a material used to make concrete, which is used in building houses, roads, and bridges.
Energy -: Energy is the power we use to do work, like electricity for lights and fuel for cars.
Construction -: Construction is the process of building things like houses, roads, and bridges.