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Core Industries Growth Slows Slightly to 4.8%
21 Sep
Summary
- Core Industries grew 4.8% year-on-year in August 2026.
- Cement and electricity output saw significant increases.
- Coal, crude oil, and natural gas production declined.
The Index of Core Industries in India expanded by 4.8% in August 2026, according to provisional data. This marks a slight deceleration from the revised 5% growth recorded in July. The performance in August was driven by growth in five out of eight core sectors, with cement and electricity output showing robust increases of 12.5% and 11.6% respectively. Steel and refinery products also contributed positively.
Conversely, the gains were tempered by declines in coal, crude oil, natural gas, and fertiliser production. Coal output fell 3.8%, crude oil production was down 3.6%, and natural gas contracted by 4.9%. Fertiliser production experienced a significant drop of 12.4%.
Cumulatively, the Index of Core Industries grew 4.3% from April to August 2026, a notable increase from the 2.4% recorded during the same period last year. The July growth figure was revised downwards to 5%. These eight core industries, including coal, steel, and cement, hold a substantial weight of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production.
