The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector in January 2013 was higher by 1.4% compared to that of the preceding month. The mineral sector has shown a negative growth of 2.9% during January 2013 as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

The total value of mineral production (excluding atomic & minor minerals) in the country during January 2013 was Rs. 18436 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs. 6603 crore (36%). Next in the order of importance were: petroleum (crude) Rs. 5779 crore, iron ore Rs. 2282 crore, natural gas (utilized) Rs. 2029 crore, lignite Rs. 477 crore and limestone Rs. 354 crore. These six minerals together contributed about 95% of the total value of mineral production in January 2013.

Production level of important minerals in January 2013 were: coal 564 lakh tonnes, lignite 43 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilized) 3170 million cu. m., petroleum (crude) 32 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1733 thousand tonnes, chromite 197 thousand tonnes, copper conc. 11 thousand tonnes, gold 130 kg., iron ore 101 lakh tonnes, lead conc. 17 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 184 thousand tonnes, zinc conc. 149 thousand tonnes, apatite & phosphorite 199 thousand tonnes, dolomite 467 thousand tonnes, limestone 226 lakh tonnes, magnesite 7 thousand tonnes and diamond 3131 carat.

In January 2013 the output of bauxite increased by 74.1%, diamond 32.3%, lignite 10.4%, lead conc. 8.8%, zinc conc.7.0%, coal 5.1% and limestone 2.2 percent. However the production of petroleum (crude) decreased by 1.3%, copper conc. 1.5%, natural gas (utilized) 2.3%, chromite 2.4%, iron ore 5.2%, dolomite 9.5%, manganese ore 11.4%, apatite & phosphorite 12.2%, gold 13.3% and magnesite 61.7 percent.