India’s Captive and Merchant Iron Ore Capacity

India’s current iron ore capacity has increased to around 376 million tonnes (mnt), a growth of 7% from 350 mnt before March 2020 – the defining moment in the country’s minerals sector when expiry of merchant leases paved the way for minerals auctions that altered the dynamics of iron ore mining and the mines and minerals industry in the country.

There has been a sharp growth in the iron ore production capacity of captive miners – mainly leading steel producers – by nearly 30% since Mar’20 in contrast with the 3% fall in merchant production capacity.