Iron ore and limestone together constitute about 80% of the total Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) by value. These critical minerals achieved record production levels in FY 2023-24, with iron ore production reaching 277 million metric tons (MMT) and limestone production at 450 MMT.
In the first month of FY 2024-25, production of these minerals continued to rise compared to the same month the previous year. Iron ore production increased from 25 MMT in April 2023 to 26 MMT in April 2024, reflecting a 4% growth. Limestone production rose from 38.5 MMT in April 2023 to 39.3 MMT in April 2024, showing a 2.1% growth.
In the non-ferrous metal sector, primary aluminium metal production hit a record 41.6 lakh tons in FY 2023-24. The upward trend persists in the current fiscal year, with aluminium production in April 2024 at 3.42 lakh tons, slightly up from 3.39 LT in April 2023, indicating a 1% increase.
India ranks as the world’s second largest aluminium producer, third largest limestone producer, and fourth largest iron ore producer. The sustained growth in iron ore and limestone production this fiscal year highlights robust demand in key industries such as steel and cement.
As reported by pib.gov.in, coupled with the growth in aluminium production, the trends indicate ongoing strong economic activity in sectors like energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive, and machinery.
