July 2025 Core Industries Index: Marginal Growth Noted

The Index of Eight Core Industries grew by 2% in July 2025 compared to July 2024, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Positive growth was noted in steel, cement, fertilizer, and electricity, while coal, crude oil, natural gas, and refinery products witnessed declines.

The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) saw a growth of 2% in July 2025 over the previous year, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced. This rise was supported by increased production in steel, cement, fertilizer, and electricity. Despite this growth, coal, crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products experienced declines.

The ICI, which accounts for 40.27% of the items in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), evaluates the output of industries such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity. Notably, coal production, which bears a weight of 10.33% in the index, dropped by 12.3%, while crude oil and natural gas outputs also saw reductions.

On the flip side, steel production, with a weightage of 17.92%, surged by 12.8%. Cement output rose by 11.7%, and electricity generation saw a minor increase. However, the cumulative indices from April to July highlighted mixed performances across sectors, with some industries showing declines. The index for August 2025 is slated for release on September 22, 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)