Mineral and Non-Ferrous Metal Production Growth in FY 2024-25 (April-November)

1. India’s production of key minerals and non-ferrous metals has shown strong growth in the first eight months of FY 2024-25 (April-November), following record production in FY 2023-24.
2. This growth reflects high industrial demand, especially in sectors like steel, aluminium, energy, and automotive.

Key Highlights:

1. Iron Ore Production

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 182.6 million metric tonnes (MMT)
2. Growth: +3% (from 177.2 MMT in the same period of FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. Iron ore is a crucial material for steel production, and India is one of the world’s largest producers.
   2. The rise in iron ore production shows high demand from the steel industry, which is important for building infrastructure, construction, and manufacturing.

2. Manganese Ore

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 2.3 million metric tonnes (MMT)
2. Growth: +9.5% (from 2.1 MMT in FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. Manganese is important for making steel and ferroalloys (alloys made with iron).
   2. The growth in manganese ore production suggests a strong demand from industries that use steel, such as automotive and construction.

3. Chromite

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 2.0 MMT
2. Growth: +11.1% (from 1.8 MMT in FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. Chromite is mostly used to make stainless steel.
   2. The increase in chromite production shows higher demand for stainless steel, which is used in construction, automobiles, and appliances.

4. Bauxite

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 15.9 MMT
2. Growth: +8.9% (from 14.6 MMT in FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. Bauxite is the main source of aluminium, a metal used in construction, automobiles, defense, and energy.
   2. The growth in bauxite production supports the aluminium industry, which is growing due to the increasing use of lightweight materials.

Non-Ferrous Metal Production:

1. Primary Aluminium

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 27.91 lakh tonnes (LT)
2. Growth: +1.1% (from 27.60 LT in FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. India is the second-largest producer of aluminium in the world.
   2. The steady growth in aluminium production shows strong demand from industries like automotive, energy, and infrastructure, especially for electric vehicles (EVs) and lightweight structures.

2. Refined Copper

1. Production (April-November 2024-25): 3.45 lakh tonnes (LT)
2. Growth: +9.2% (from 3.16 LT in FY 2023-24)
3. Importance:
   1. India is among the top-10 producers of refined copper.
   2. Copper is essential in electronics, electric power generation, and automotive industries. The rise in copper production shows high demand in the renewable energy sector and the growing electric vehicle market.

India’s Global Positioning in Key Minerals and Metals:

1. Iron Ore: India is the 4th largest producer of iron ore in the world.
2. Aluminium: India is the 2nd largest producer of aluminium globally.
3. Refined Copper: India is among the top-10 producers of refined copper.

This global position highlights India's importance in the world mineral and metal market.

Sectoral Implications:

1. Steel Industry: The growth in iron ore, manganese, and chromite production directly benefits the steel industry, which is key for construction, automotive, infrastructure, and manufacturing industries.
2. Aluminium and Copper: The increase in bauxite, primary aluminium, and refined copper production supports India’s growth in lightweight materials, energy, and electronics, especially with the rise of green energy and electric vehicles.
3. The strong growth in these sectors points to continued economic activity in industries such as construction, automotive, energy, and infrastructure.

Economic Outlook:

1. The ongoing growth in mineral and non-ferrous metal production in FY 2024-25 (April-November) suggests that India’s industrial sector is on a strong path.
2. The growth in iron ore, manganese, chromite, bauxite, aluminium, and copper indicates healthy demand from industries like steel, energy, and automotive, driving economic growth.
3. This trend supports a positive economic outlook for India in the coming months.

Conclusion:

India’s mineral production and non-ferrous metal output have shown impressive growth in FY 2024-25 (April-November), signaling strong demand in the steel, aluminium, and copper industries. The growth in key minerals like iron ore, manganese, and bauxite reflects a positive outlook for sectors such as construction, automotive, and energy. These growth patterns show that India’s mining and metal sectors are crucial drivers of industrial growth, helping to boost global supply chains and domestic development.

 

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