New Delhi: India’s Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) recorded a 3 per cent year-on-year growth in September 2025, driven by strong performances in steel, cement, electricity, and fertilisers, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The ICI tracks the collective and individual output of eight crucial industries — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity — which together account for 40.27 per cent of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), making it a key barometer of industrial activity.
The final growth rate for August 2025 stood at 6.5 per cent, while the cumulative growth rate for April–September 2025-26 was 2.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Despite robust growth in certain sectors, the overall momentum was moderated by declines in others.
Sector-wise performance:
Coal: Production fell 1.2 per cent in September 2025 and declined 0.7 per cent cumulatively during April–September 2025-26.
Crude Oil: Output dropped 1.3 per cent in September and 1.1 per cent over the first half of the fiscal year.
Natural Gas: Production slipped 3.8 per cent in September and 2.9 per cent cumulatively.
Refinery Products: Output declined 3.7 per cent in September and 0.3 per cent over April–September.
Fertilisers: Production rose 1.6 per cent in September but fell 0.4 per cent cumulatively.
Steel: Output surged 14.1 per cent in September and 11.0 per cent during April–September.
Cement: Production grew 5.3 per cent in September and 7.7 per cent cumulatively.
Electricity: Generation increased 2.1 per cent in September and 0.9 per cent during April–September.
While steel and cement continued to be the major growth drivers, declines in coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products weighed on overall performance.
