Question

Describe the distribution, production and trade of Bauxite in India.

Answer 1

• Bauxite ore is found in laterite rocks occuring extensively either on the plateau or hill ranges of peninsular India and also in the coastal tracts of the country.
• It is estimated that total reserves of Buaxite in the country is about 2500 million tones. This reserve is the .fifth largest in the world.
• Odisha : Odisha has large reserves and is the biggest producer of Bauxite in India. Vast reserves of Bauxite are located at Kalahandi, Koraput, Sundaragarh, Bolingir and Sambalapur districts.
• Chhatisgarh: Chhatisgarh produce more than 18.4 percent of the total production of Bauxite in the country. It is found Bilasapur, Durga, Surguja and Rajagarh districts.
• Maharashtra : Maharashtra accounts for 15.1 percent of the total production of Bauxite in the country. It mainly occurs in Ratnagiri, Kollapur, Jhana and Satara districts.
• Jharkhand : It is fourth largest producer of Bauxite in India. If contributes about 14.3 percent of total production. It is located in Ranchi, Lahardaga, Palmu and Gumla districts.
• Gujarat: Gujarat is another important producer of Bauxite in India. It accounts for 6.6 percent in India. It is located in Jamanagar, Junagash, Kedha Kuchchh and Bhavanagar districts.
• Others : East and West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerela, Karnataka etc Trade :
• Nearly 80 percent of the bauxite in India is used for producing aluminium.
• India’* export of bauxite have been reduced considerably due to the increasing demand in the home market.
• So, India exports only 20 percent of its Bauxite ore mainly to Italy, U.K, Japan and Germany.