
Most metal stocks lack mettle. Not these two.
India’s metal sector is becoming increasingly important as the country sharpens its focuses on infrastructure, power, manufacturing, and clean energy. Metals such as zinc and copper are essential inputs across construction, electrification, renewables, and industrial production.Hindustan Zinc and Hindustan Copper stand out among the top metal stocks in India, though their businesses operate on very different scales and cycles.Today we compare these two metal stocks by examining their operations, financial performance, and risks to help your understand how each fits into India’s metal ecosystem.Hindustan Zinc, a subsidiary of the Vedanta Group, is the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc and also ranks among the top five silver producers globally.Over the years, the company has built a large-scale and cost-efficient mining and smelting ecosystem in India.
Its operations are concentrated primarily in Rajasthan, where it runs eight underground mines across five locations, supported by smelting and refining facilities.In FY25, Hindustan Zinc’s total ore production stood at 16.33 million tonnes. What’s comforting from a long-term perspective is the depth of its resource base.
As of 31 March 2025, the company reported 453.2 million tonnes of mineral and ore reserves, translating into a mine life of more than 25 years. This long reserve visibility reduces uncertainty and provides stability across commodity cycles.Operationally, FY25 was a strong year for the company.
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