Mineral production up by 10.7% in July 2023

India’s mineral production saw a significant increase in July. Positive growth was observed in Chromite, Manganese Ore, Coal, Limestone, Iron Ore, Gold, Copper Conc, and Natural gas (U).

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Mineral production in India witnessed an impressive surge in the month of July. According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Mines, the mineral output in the country increased by 10.7% in July 2023 as compared to July 2022. 

The index of mineral production of the mining and quarrying sector for the month of July 2023 was at 111.9, which is 10.7% higher as compared to the level in the month of July last year. The robust growth affirms the resilience of the sector and its capacity to make a significant contribution to the economic development of the country.

As per the provisional statistics of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), the cumulative growth for the April- July period over the corresponding period in the previous year is 7.3 %.

The production level of important minerals in July 2023 was as:

• Coal 693 lakh tonne
• Lignite 32 lakh tonne
• Natural gas (utilized) 3062 million cu. m.
• Petroleum (crude) 25 lakh tonne
• Bauxite 1477 thousand tonne
• Chromite 280 thousand tonne
• Copper conc. 10 thousand tonne 
• Gold 102 kg, Iron ore 172 lakh tonne
• Lead conc. 30 thousand tonne
• Manganese ore 217 thousand tonne
• Zinc conc. 132 thousand tonne
• Limestone 346 lakh tonne
• Phosphorite 120 thousand tonne and 
• Magnesite 10 thousand tonne

Important minerals that exhibited positive growth in July 2023 as compared to July 2022 include:

1. Chromite (45.9%)
2. Manganese Ore (41.7%)
3. Coal (14.9%)
4. Limestone (12.7%) 
5. Iron Ore (11.2%)
6. Gold (9.7%)
7. Copper Conc. (9%)
8. Natural gas (U) (8.9%)
9. Lead Conc.(4.7%)
10. Zinc Conc.(3.6%) 
11. Magnesite (3.4%) 
12. Petroleum(crude) (2.1%) 

The minerals showing negative growth include Lignite (-0.7%), Bauxite (-3.2%), Phosphorite (-24.7%) and Diamond (-27.3%).

These fluctuations demonstrate the volatility in the mineral production sector, which is influenced by a number of factors such as market demand and resource availability.