Project expansions set to lift India’s iron ore output in 2026

India remains the third-largest robust ore shaper successful the satellite and surpassed China for the 2nd consecutive year, accounting for 11.8% of the planetary full successful 2025. The country’s robust ore accumulation is estimated to person accrued by 6.3% successful 2025 to 307.7 cardinal tonnes (mt), reflecting accordant accumulation and sustained mining enlargement from large mines specified arsenic the Bailadila robust ore mines (Bacheli and Kirandul Complex), Nuagaon, Noamundi and Katamati mines arsenic companies purpose to summation robust ore production.

Looking ahead, India’s robust ore accumulation is anticipated to turn further successful 2026 to scope 318.8mt – a 3.6% year-on-year (YoY) increase. This maturation volition beryllium underpinned by continuous beardown accumulation and ongoing capableness expansions from cardinal producing mines specified arsenic the Guali Iron ore Mine, Nuagaon, Naomundi and Bailadila Iron ore mines (Bacheli and Kirandul Complex). In India, astir of the mines person an yearly accumulation beneath 10mt. Some mines autumn wrong the scope of 10mt-30mt, portion lone a constricted fig of mines nutrient much than 30mtpa.

India produced 266.6mt of robust ore successful the archetypal 11 months of 2025, up by 3.9% YoY. The summation tin mostly beryllium attributable to the efforts of home robust ore giants specified arsenic National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).

The Indian Ministry of Mines’ amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act successful caller years person created a much favourable regulatory situation for Indian mining operations, encouraging concern and accelerating production. Leading mining companies similar NMDC, SAIL, and Tata Steel are investing successful capableness enlargement and operational optimisation to capitalise connected the increasing demand.

The 2025 MMDR Amendment Act further strengthens the mining model by broadening the scope of the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust, enabling greater exploration and improvement financing to amended structured capableness enlargement crossed the sector.

Over the forecast play (2026–2035), India’s robust ore accumulation is anticipated to diminution with a antagonistic compound yearly maturation complaint (CAGR) of 0.1%, to 316.1mt by 2035, owed to the planned closure of 32 mines, which collectively produced 67.4mt successful 2024, but volition present lone 0.3mt successful 2035. Amongst the mines planned to adjacent are the Roida II (2026), Mahamaya (2030), Guali Iron Ore Mines (2031), Meghahatuburu (2032), Barsua and Balda Block (2033).

"Project expansions acceptable to assistance India’s robust ore output successful 2026" was primitively created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.