The performance index of eight major industries recorded a 4.6% growth in January 2025 over the corresponding month last year, according to figures published by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday.
The report reflected growth in production of major sectors such as cement, refinery products, coal, steel, fertilisers, and electricity in the month.
These eight core sectors as a group represent 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Cumulative growth of Index of Core Industries (ICI) for the period from April 2024 to January 2025 was at 4.4% in comparison with the corresponding period last year.
Coal production was up by 4.6% in January 2025 compared to the corresponding month in the earlier year, while its cumulative index grew by 6.0% from April-January 2024-25.
Petroleum refinery production, with a weightage of 28.04% in the index, grew by 8.3% in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Cumulatively, the industry's growth was 3.3% from April-January 2024-25.
The fertiliser sector recorded a growth of 3.0% in January 2025 over the same period last year, on the back of acceleration in rabi sowing activity after the welcome monsoon.
Steel production, with a high weight of 17.92% in the index, grew by 3.7% in January 2025 against January 2024, while its cumulative index during April to January 2024-25 went up by 5.9%.
The cement industry, which contributed 5.37% to the index, recorded the largest jump among core industries, increasing by 14.5% in January 2025 over the corresponding month in 2024. Its four-quarter growth was at 4.6% in the April–January period.
Electricity production, with a weightage of 19.85% in the index, recorded a small growth of 1.3% in January 2025 over the last year, while its cumulative index increased by 5.0% during April–January.
Though overall the trend was upward, crude oil and natural gas production fell in the month.
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