Industrial Pulse: February Sees Dip, But Green Shoots Emerge in Key Sectors

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 1 Views

India's growth in its core sector slowed to a five-month low of 2.9% in February 2025, down from 5.1% in January, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The decline in output of crude oil and natural gas (-5.2% and -6%, respectively) brought the growth down below 4%.

Despite the overall decline, six of the eight key industries recorded growth. Cement growth led at 10.5% annual growth followed by fertilizers at 10.2% and steel at 5.6%. Electricity generation was up 2.8%, while coal and refinery products saw slight growth of 1.7% and 0.8% respectively.

Of the eight core industries, which make up 40.27% of the weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) as a measure of driving industrial performance, growth was at 4.4% for the period April - February 2024-25, which was down from 7.8% growth in the previous year on the same month.

Experts indicated part of the February slowdown was due to negative base effects and softening demand conditions in several major sectors, primarily crude oil and natural gas. Analysts expected moderate pick-up in March, with core sector expansion continuing around 4%.

Source: Business World

Stay Ahead – Explore Now! IRFC Switches Tracks: From Railways to Renewables, A New Growth Journey Begins