NEW DELHI: Production of iron ore, a vital steel-making raw material, in the country fell by 4.81 per cent in 2010-11 to 208.11 million tonnes (MT), Parliament was informed today.

Of this, the private sector accounted for over 70 per cent of iron ore production, Mines Minister Dinsha Patel said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, quoting provisional figures from the Indian Bureau of Mines.

He added that India produced 218.64 MT of iron ore in 2009-10.

Among the states, Orissa accounted for over 36 per cent of India's total iron ore production, at 74.96 MT, he said. Karnataka's output of 37.66 MT accounted for another 18.09 per cent and Goa's 36.48 MT output was 17.52 per cent of total production, he added.

The data shows that all three states witnessed a decline in iron ore production last fiscal vis-a-vis their respective production figures for 2009-10.

However, the Mines Minister's reply did not give any reasons for the decline in FY'11.

Speaking on consumption, Patel said that steel and allied industries consumed over 118 MT of ore in 2009-10, while the cement industry accounted for total consumption of 11.66 MT during the year.

In reply to a separate question, the Mines Minister said the total value of mineral production in the country (excluding atomic minerals) has been estimated at Rs 1,98,380.33 crore in 2010-11, a growth of 10.59 per cent vis-a-vis the previous year.

This growth was driven by an increase in demand for minerals both at home and overseas, which has made the mining industry more profitable, Patel said.

He added that India produces 87 minerals, including four fuel minerals, 10 metallic minerals, 47 non-metallic minerals, three atomic minerals and 23 minor minerals.