India’s eight core industries recorded stronger growth in September 2026, with the combined growth rate rising to 7.9% from 5.9% in August, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.
The improvement was supported by higher production of iron ore, electricity, coal, refinery products, cement and steel. However, fertilisers, natural gas and crude oil production declined during the month, highlighting differences in the performance of key industrial sectors.
Iron Ore, Electricity and Coal Lead Industrial Growth
Iron ore production registered the strongest year-on-year growth among the eight core industries, increasing by 18.4% in September. Electricity generation rose by 11.4%, while coal production expanded by 10.7%.
Refinery products also performed well, recording growth of 10.3%. Cement production increased by 9.8%, while steel output rose by 4.9% during the month.
In contrast, fertiliser production fell by 11.7% year-on-year. Natural gas output declined by 4.6%, while crude oil production registered a smaller contraction of 1.4%.
The figures indicate that growth in September was largely supported by mining-related industries, electricity and construction-linked sectors, despite declines in some energy and agricultural input industries.
Core Sector Growth Improves in April-September 2026
The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) tracks production across coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. Together, these industries play an important role in India’s overall industrial production.
According to the ministry, coal, refinery products, steel and iron ore have been among the major contributors to core sector growth in recent months.
Provisional data show that the index grew by 5.1% during April-September 2026, compared with 2.5% in the corresponding period of the previous year. The figures point to stronger cumulative growth during the first six months of the current financial year.
August Growth Revised Upward
The ministry also revised the final core sector index for August 2026 to 120.4, up from the earlier provisional figure of 119.2.
Following the revision, the year-on-year growth rate for August was raised to 5.9% from the previously reported 4.8%.
The September figures remain provisional and may be updated in subsequent releases. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has scheduled the release of core sector data for October 2026 for November 20.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on provisional government data. Figures and growth rates may be revised in subsequent official releases. Readers should refer to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s published data for the latest confirmed statistics.