Core sector output in March rises 6.8%, but contracts 7% in FY21: Govt

The output of eight core sectors grew by 6.8 per cent in March, driven by base effect-led uptick in production of natural gas, steel, cement and electricity, official data showed on Friday.

The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- stood at (-) 8.6 per cent in March 2020.

In the previous month of February, output had fallen at the fastest pace in six months, contracting 3.8 percent

Infrastructure output, which comprises eight sectors including coal, crude oil and electricity, and accounts for nearly 40% of industrial output, fell by 7 per cent in the 2020/21 fiscal year that ended on March 31, the data showed.

Coal production declined by 21.9 per cent in March, 2021 over the same period last year. Meanwhile, Crude Oil production declined by 3.1 per cent in March.

Steel production in the month increased by 23 per cent in the month of March, showed government data. Cement production, which has a weight of 5.37 per cent increased by 32.5 per cent.

Coal, crude oil, refinery products and fertiliser segments recorded negative growth during the month under review.