NMDC clocks record 50 million tonne iron ore output

NMDC’s iron ore production has touched 50 million tonnes and with a fortnight to go for FY 26 the State-owned miner is set to add more to what is already a new record output in a fiscal year.

It is a significant milestone that comes days ahead of the close of FY 26, the public sector miner said, announcing the record 50 MT production. The previous highest for the company was 45.2 MT that came in 2023-2024. Last fiscal, it had reported 44.04 MT output.

“Reaching 50 million tonnes is a notable achievement and reflects the strong progress made under NMDC 2.0. What once took decades to build, we have accelerated in just a few years through sharper execution, responsible mining practices and a clear commitment to national priorities,” CMD Amitava Mukherjee said.

The iron ore production has increased by nearly two-thirds since 2015 when it was about 30 MT, with nearly one-fifth of the current capacity added in the last four years. Established in 1958, NMDC, from a modest around 10 MT output in 1978, has transformed into a backbone of India’s iron ore supply chain.

NMDC said it remains central to ensuring the country’s iron ore security. As India eyes expansion of steelmaking capacity to 300 MT by 2030, ensuring a stable and reliable domestic supply of iron ore has become a strategic priority, it said.