NMDC Posts Highest-Ever Iron Ore Output at 53 MT in FY26

State-run miner NMDC has entered India’s mining record books after producing 53.15 million tonnes of iron ore in FY26, becoming the first company in the country’s mining history to cross the 50 million tonne annual production threshold. The milestone underlines the company’s growing role in India’s mineral economy and its importance to the steel sector, where iron ore remains the foundational raw material.

The company’s March 2026 performance also remained strong. NMDC produced 5.35 million tonnes and sold 5.90 million tonnes of iron ore during the month, registering year-on-year growth of 51 percent in production and 40 percent in sales over the corresponding period last year. For the full financial year, sales stood at 50.23 million tonnes, up 13 percent, making FY26 the best year in the company’s history in both output and dispatch volumes.

The record performance was driven by robust output from NMDC’s flagship mining complexes at Kirandul and Bacheli in Chhattisgarh and Donimalai in Karnataka, all of which delivered their best-ever operational performance. The result reflects not only higher mining efficiency but also stronger execution across some of the country’s most strategically important iron ore assets.

FY26 was also a year of expansion for the company beyond its traditional iron ore base. NMDC inaugurated an international office in Dubai, operationalised its first coal mine in Jharkhand, and commissioned Deposit 4 at Bailadila in Chhattisgarh, moves that are expected to strengthen both its production base and diversification strategy. The company said this has positioned it to enter FY27 with stronger momentum and a clearer long-term growth trajectory.

NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Amitava Mukherjee said crossing the 50 million tonne mark was both a company milestone and a moment of pride for India’s mining sector. He said rising steel demand, driven by rapid infrastructure growth, was creating fresh opportunities for expansion, and added that the company’s recent mine additions and resource development plans had set the pace for a stronger FY27.

The company said its high-grade iron ore continues to supply some of India’s leading steel producers and remains central to the country’s infrastructure and manufacturing ambitions. Looking ahead, NMDC has set an ambitious target of building more than 100 million tonnes of iron ore production capacity by 2030 through new projects, capacity upgrades and supporting infrastructure. It has linked this growth roadmap to the broader national goal of Viksit Bharat 2047 and to long-term raw material security for the domestic steel industry.

Reference: PIB