India's core sector output slows to 0.5% in May as against 1.8% in April

India's combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) slowed to 0.5% year-on-year in May 2026, as against 1.8% in April, according to provisional data released by the government

The production of steel, cement and electricity recorded positive growth during the month compared with May 2025.

The Index of Eight Core Industries comprises coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity.


The final growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries for April 2026 was revised to 1.8%. The cumulative growth rate of the index during April-May 2026-27 stood at 1.1% (provisional) compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.




Among the eight core sectors, cement production posted the sharpest growth at 8.4% year-on-year in May, followed by steel at 5%. Electricity generation also recorded positive growth during the month.

However, output contracted across coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertilisers.

Coal production fell 9.3% in May from a year earlier, while crude oil output declined 4.6%. Natural gas production dropped 4.9%, petroleum refinery products output contracted 8.7% and fertiliser production declined 0.9%.

On a cumulative basis during April-May 2026-27, steel production rose 5.2% and cement output increased 8.3% over the corresponding period of the previous year. In contrast, coal output declined 9.1%, crude oil production fell 4.2%, natural gas output dropped 4.5%, refinery products contracted 4.7% and fertiliser production declined 4.5%.