Core Sectors

Output growth in the core sectors, that constitute about 40 per cent of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), halved to 2.3 per cent in February from 4.7 per cent in January

Production growth in eight core infrastructure sectors slowed down to 2.3 per cent in February from 3.4 per cent in the same month last year, according to government data. Production of crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products declined during the month. During April-February, the cumulative production growth in infrastructure sectors was 2.9 per cent, compared with 4.4 per cent in the same period of the last financial year.

India's eight key infrastructure sectors' output slowed down to 4 per cent in January, according to official data released on Friday. It was 5.1 per cent in January 2025 and 4.7 per cent in December 2025. Crude oil and natural gas output recorded negative growth in January. During the April-January period of this fiscal, the output of these sectors grew by 2.8 per cent against 4.5 per cent recorded during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that cement, steel, fertilisers and coal registered positive growth, while crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and electricity recorded declines

In August 2024, ICI had declined to -1.3 per cent. For the first five months (April-August) of the current financial year, growth stood at 2.9 per cent against 4.72 per cent last year

Aditi Nayar, chief economist at Icra, said that while an elevated base weighed upon coal output, excess rains in the latter half of June impacted electricity generation

Refinery products saw positive growth of 3.4 per cent. Similarly, the steel and cement sectors recorded growth of 9.3 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively

April growth slowed due to contraction in refinery and fertiliser output, high base effect; only coal and natural gas posted gains among eight core industries

On a monthly basis, the growth rate in the production of these sectors was lower than the 5.1 per cent expansion recorded in January

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The key infrastructure sectors' output had expanded by 4.8 per cent in December 2024

The contraction can be attributed to a high base as well as monsoon impacting industrial activity. The growth in the output was 6.1 per cent in July 2024 and 13.4 per cent in August 2023

Compared to July 2023, six sectors recorded a decline in output growth. The growth rate in coal (6.8 per cent) was the lowest in 13 months

Exemption from BCD on import of certain minerals to be used in strategic sectors such as telecommunication, space, high-tech electronics, etc

Core sector growth rose to 6.1 per cent YoY in Apr'24 over Apr'23, as every sector except fertilisers and cement saw strong growth

The coal sector has registered an 11.6 per cent growth, the highest among all eight core industries of the economy, in February, an official statement said on Monday. The index of coal industry has reached 212.1 points during February as compared to 190.1 points during the same month last year, the coal ministry said. "The coal sector has exhibited highest growth of 11.6 per cent (provisional) among the eight core industries for the month of February 2024 as per the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) (Base Year 2011-12) released by Ministry of Commerce & Industries," it said. On a cumulative basis, the index of coal industry increased by 12.1 per cent during April to February 2023-24 over the corresponding period of the previous year. ICI measures the combined and individual production performance of eight core industries namely, cement, coal, crude oil, electricity, fertilizers, natural gas, refinery products, and steel. The Combined Index of Eight Core Industries experienced a

The eight core industries account for 40.27 per cent of weighting of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). Thus, they have a significant impact on the index

Core industries contributing to this growth, include coal, natural gas, cement, steel, crude oil, electricity, and refinery products which make up 40.27% of India IIP

The figures for September were revised upward to 9.2 per cent from 8.1 per cent earlier

All the sectors except for fertiliser recorded healthy production growth in the month under review