Core sector output grows 1.7% in June on higher steel, cement production

The output of eight core sectors grew by 1.7% in June 2025, mainly driven by higher production of steel, cement and refinery products, according to official data released on Monday.

The growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) stood at 1.2% in May 2025.

During April-June 2025-26, the cumulative growth was recorded at 1.3% compared to the same period last year.

The growth in June 2025, however, slowed down from 5% in the same month last year.

The eight core industries – coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity – have a combined weight of 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

According to the data, steel production rose by 9.3% in June 2025 over June 2024, while cement output increased by 9.2%. Petroleum refinery production registered a growth of 3.4% during the month.

On the other hand, coal production declined by 6.8% and electricity generation fell by 2.8% in June 2025 compared to the year-ago period. Natural gas output declined by 2.8%, crude oil by 1.2% and fertiliser production also slipped by 1.2% during the month.

In terms of cumulative performance during April-June 2025-26, steel production grew by 7%, cement by 8.4%, while refinery products remained almost flat. Coal production fell by 0.3%, crude oil by 2%, natural gas by 2.5%, fertilisers by 3.8%, and electricity generation by 2% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.