- Coal: Production fell 1.2% year-on-year, with a cumulative decline of 0.7% from April to September 2025-26.
- Crude Oil: Output dropped 1.3% in September, with a 1.1% decline in the cumulative index for April–September.
- Natural Gas: Production decreased 3.8% in September and 2.9% cumulatively.
- Petroleum Refinery Products: Output fell 3.7% in September; cumulative growth was slightly negative at 0.3%.
- Fertilizers: Grew 1.6% in September but recorded a marginal cumulative decline of 0.4%.
- Steel: Production surged 14.1% in September, with cumulative growth of 11% during April–September.
- Cement: Output increased 5.3% in September, contributing to a 7.7% cumulative rise.
- Electricity: Generation grew 2.1% in September, with a 0.9% cumulative increase.
Cumulative Performance April–September 2025-26
The provisional cumulative growth rate for the first half of FY 2025-26 stood at 2.9%, indicating steady industrial activity despite weaker performance in energy sectors like Coal, Crude Oil, and Natural Gas. Positive momentum in Steel, Cement, and Fertilizers offset declines in energy production.
Sectoral Insights
Steel Production: Continued robust growth, reflecting healthy domestic demand and infrastructure projects.
Cement Industry: Sustained construction activity across urban and rural India contributed to a steady increase in cement output.
Electricity Generation: Marginal increase shows stable power demand, including contributions from renewable energy sources, which have been included in official data since April 2014.
Energy Sectors: Coal, Crude Oil, and Natural Gas faced slight declines due to seasonal and operational factors.
The final growth rate for August 2025 was 6.5%, with September provisional data reflecting a slight moderation but continued overall expansion in the core industries. The release for October 2025 ICI is scheduled for November 20, 2025.
These trends are crucial for policymakers and investors as they indicate the underlying health of India’s industrial output, influencing decisions in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure sectors.