Metals & Mining Industry in India

Investments/ Developments

Some of the investments/ developments in the Metals & Mining sector in the recent past are as follows:

• As of August 2025, JSW Steel and Japan’s JFE Steel are planning to jointly invest Rs. 5,845 crore (US$ 682 million) to expand capacity for cold-rolled grain-oriented electrical steel (CRGO) to 3,50,000 tonnes per annum by FY28 by scaling up the Nashik plant from 50,000 to 2,50,000 TPA and increasing the Vijayanagar unit’s capacity to 1,00,000 TPA.
• On July 7, 2025, Tata Steel signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Australia’s InQuik Group to bring modular bridge construction technology to India, using prefabricated steel formwork filled with concrete on site to enable faster, cost-effective, climate resilient and scalable bridge infrastructure, especially useful in remote regions.
• NALCO produced 39,859 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 37,178 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in July 2025.
• BALCO produced 50,000 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 48,994 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in July 2025.
• Vedanta Ltd (Aluminium) produced 1,56,200 Metric Tonne of Aluminium and sold 1,57,918 Metric Tonne of Aluminium metal in July 2025.
• In June 2025, India and Australia strengthened their Critical Minerals Investment Partnership to co-invest in lithium and cobalt projects and build resilient clean-energy supply chains.
• Between April 2000-June 2025, FDI inflows in the metallurgical industry stood at Rs. 1,60,000 crore (US$ 18.6 billion), followed by the mining Rs. 30,077 crore (US$ 3.51 billion), diamond & gold ornaments Rs. 12,665 crore (US$ 1.47 billion), and coal production Rs. 238 crore (US$ 27.73 million).
• India’s steel exports in July 2025 saw a higher share from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Bulgaria, the US and Qatar, while the share of the UAE, Nepal and Portugal declined compared to July 2024.
• With the fifth-largest coal reserves and as the second-largest consumer, coal remains crucial for India, contributing 55% to the national energy mix and fuelling over 74% of total power generation as of April 2025.
• On March 28, 2025, AM/NS India has secured 890 hectares of land in Rajayyapeta, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh for a new integrated steel mill with planned capacity of about 7 MTPA of crude steel, expanding beyond its Hazira operations to meet rising domestic demand.
• In January 2025, the Ministry of Steel has introduced the PLI Scheme 1.1 for specialty steel, covering five product categories, which aligns with the existing PLI Scheme. This initiative aims to encourage greater participation in response to industry requests for relaxation. The PLI Scheme 1.1 will be open for applications from January 6 to January 31, 2025, and will be implemented from FY26 to FY30.
• India and Kazakhstan have launched IREUK Titanium Limited, a joint venture to produce Titanium Slag in India, marking India's first venture in Central Asia. The company will convert low-grade Ilmenite into high-grade titanium feedstock, aiming to enhance the titanium value chain in India and create jobs in Odisha.
• Southeastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India in Chhattisgarh, has reached a milestone with its Gevra and Kusmunda coal mines ranking 2nd and 4th on WorldAtlas.com’s list of the world's largest coal mines. Located in Korba district, these mines together produce over 100 million tons of coal annually, accounting for about 10% of India’s total coal production.
• India is experiencing a construction boom driven by a growing housing economy and significant government infrastructure investments. The country is projected to become the third-largest construction market in the world, following China and the US, by 2025.
• In January 2024, India and Argentina signed an agreement to undertake the exploration and development of five lithium blocks, enhancing India's efforts in sourcing lithium. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has obtained exploration and exclusivity right for these five blocks.
• In February 2024, an MoU has been signed between India and the Republic of Cote d'lvoire, for collaboration in field of Geology and Mineral Resources.
• In March 2024, Karnataka and Rajasthan initiated the auction of Exploration Licences (EL) for critical and deep-seated minerals, marking the first such auction in India. Under the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, introduced by the MMDR Amendment Act, 2023, 29 critical minerals are eligible for exploration and mining concessions.