March 13, 2002

    The production of iron ore and concentrates during 2000-01 in the country was 79.21 million tonnes against 74.94 million tonnes in the previous year. Out of this public sectors’ contribution was 43.658 million tonnes and private sector produced 35.552 million tonnes. During the year Jharkhand and Bihar produced 12.32 million tonnes, Goa 14.277 million tonnes, Karnataka 17.55 million tonnes, MP and Chattisgarh 20.277 million tonnes, Orissa 14.265 million tonnes and others 0.52 million tonnes.

    India ranks 6^th in the production of iron ore in the world and accounts for about 6 per cent of total production. China tops the list of iron ore producers followed by Brazil, Australia, Russia and United States.