India’s infrastructure output jumps 7.9% in September on strong coal, steel growth

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The core sector output rose as compared with 3.1% growth in the same month last year, according to the data .

The index, which tracks activity across nine sectors and makes up about a third of the country's industrial production, rose at a revised 5.9% in August.

Iron ore production recorded the highest growth among the eight core industries, rising 18.4% year-on-year in September, followed by electricity generation, which grew 11.4%. Coal output increased 10.7%, while refinery products rose 10.3% and cement production grew 9.8%.

Steel production expanded 4.9% during the month, adding to the overall growth in core sector output. Fertilizers, natural gas and crude oil were the three sectors to register a contraction in September.

The data covers nine key infrastructure sectors under the revamped Index of Core Industries (ICI), which uses 2022-23 as the base year and includes iron ore as the ninth sector. The new series replaced the earlier 2011-12-based series.

The eight core industries: coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, account for 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).