Eight core industries' output contracts 9.6% in July
New Delhi: Contracting for the fifth consecutive month, the output of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped by 9.6 percent in July due to a decline mostly in the production of steel, refinery products, and cement.
The production of eight core sectors had expanded by 2.6 percent in July 2019, data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday showed.
Barring fertilizer, all seven sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement, and electricity -- recorded negative growth in July.
The output of steel, refinery products, cement, natural gas, coal, crude oil, and electricity declined by 16.5 percent, 13.9 percent, 13.5 percent, 10.2 percent, 5.7 percent, 4.9 percent, and 2.3 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, the fertilizer output grew by 6.9 percent during the month under review as against 1.5 percent in July 2019.
During April-July 2020-21, the sector's output dipped by 20.5 percent as compared to a growth of 3.2 percent in the same period the previous year.
