India's iron ore production rose just 0.5 percent year-on-year in April-November 2025 to 184.5 million tonnes, according to preliminary data from BigMint.
During the period, iron ore output growth lagged behind crude steel output, which rose 11 percent year-on-year to 109.5 million tons This has led to supply shortages, especially of high-grade ore, resulting in rising prices and operational challenges for manufacturers of downstream products such as sponge iron and steel.
Consequently, India's imports of fine/lump iron ore increased by 126 percent year-on-year to about 7 million tonnes.
Odisha, the leading iron ore producing state, recorded a 10 percent year-on-year decline as the state's top miners, including Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), JSW Steel and Rungta Mines, faced challenges in increasing production. Declining production in Odisha was a major factor behind the slowdown in India's production growth as most other major centers recorded double-digit growth.
Notably, mining companies' production fell by 1 percent to 67.5 million tonnes. Conversely, commercial mining companies' production increased by 1 percent year-on-year.
State-wide iron ore production
Odisha's iron ore production fell 10 percent year-on-year to 92.8 million tonnes, up 50 percent of India's total production, up from 56 percent in the same period last year.
Chhattisgarh recorded a strong rise of 19 percent to 31.3 million tonnes, while production in Karnataka increased at a slower 7 percent year-on-year to 30.9 million tonnes.
Output in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa increased by 13 percent, 23 percent, 12 percent and 25 percent respectively.
Apart from Odisha, Rajasthan was the only state that recorded a decline in volumes of 7 percent.
Factors affecting production iron ore in India
OMC production falls 5 percent:The prolonged monsoon disrupted OMC's mining operations, causing production to fall 5 percent to 20.2 million tonnes. Elevated inventories and weak refining demand at start of fiscal
