India’s eight core industries recorded a robust growth of 6.3% in August 2025, the highest in 13 months, driven by strong performances in steel, coal, and cement production, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday.
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI), which tracks the combined output of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity, accounts for 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The ICI growth for July 2025 was 3.7%, while cumulative growth for April–August 2025-26 stands at 2.8% compared to the same period last year.
Sector-wise Performance:
Steel: Production surged by 14.2% in August, supported by increased demand from government infrastructure projects. The cumulative growth for April–August was 10.4%.
Coal: Output rose 11.4% in August, though cumulative growth for April–August slightly declined by 0.7%.
Cement: Production increased 6.1% in August, with cumulative growth at 8.4%.
Petroleum Refinery Products: Output of petrol, diesel, and LPG grew 3.0% in August, with cumulative growth of 0.4%.
Electricity: Generation rose 3.1%, with cumulative growth of 0.5%.
Fertilizers: Production grew 4.6% in August but saw a cumulative decline of 0.8%.
In contrast, crude oil production fell 1.2% and natural gas output declined 2.2% in August, with cumulative declines of 1.7% and 2.5% respectively for April–August.
The surge in steel, coal, and cement highlights the revival in economic activity, particularly in infrastructure and construction projects, signaling positive momentum for India’s industrial sector.
