India mineral production falls in April

Production falls by 16%, but minerals sector still showed positive growth in April. [$]

{reg}[PAID={"id":"15,16,17","title":"The content you tried to access is only available to paid subscribers.","link":"1"}] Mineral production from the mining and quarrying sector of India declined in April, according to data provided by the Ministry of Mines, output was lower by 15.95%. Despite this, the industry still experienced positive growth of 11.41 percent in April.

In a report by Construction Week, the total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during April 2010 was Rs10607 crore. The data suggested that contribution of coal was the highest at Rs3551 crore with 33 percent, followed by iron ore Rs2699 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs 1599 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs1399 crore, lignite Rs390 crore and limestone Rs272 crore. These six minerals together contributed to about 93% of the total value of mineral production in April.

Production level of minerals in April 2010 included 387 lakh tons  of coal, 35 lakh tons lignite, 4457 million cu. m. of natural gas (utilized), 29 lakh tons  of petroleum (crude), 1185 thousand tons of bauxite, 333 thousand tons of chromite, 13 thousand tons of copper conc., 218 kg. of gold, 224 lakh tons of iron ore, 11 thousand tons of lead conc., 254 thousand tons  of manganese ore, 96 thousand tons of zinc conc., 135 thousand tons of apatite & phosphorite, 354 thousand tons of dolomite, 205 lakh tons of limestone, 26 thousand tons of magnesite and 2711 carats of diamond, the report said.

The Ministry of Mines data revealed that in April, the output of chromite increased by 9.99% while manganese ore increased by 3.97 percent, lignite increased by 3.56% and iron ore 2.5%. However, there is a decrease in the production of copper conc. (0.02%) gold (0.91%,) limestone (2.67%,) petroleum (crude) (2.94%,) dolomite (4.45%,) natural gas (utilized) (5.47%,) magnesite (8.13%,) lead conc. (13.03%,) bauxite (13.18%,) zinc conc. (13.39%,) apatite & phosphorite (17.67%,) diamond (19.39%) and coal (36.67%.), according to the Construction Week report. {reg/}