India’s core sectors’ growth loses steam, slows to 4% in January

India’s eight core infrastructure sectors grew by 4 per cent in January 2026, easing from a revised 4.7 per cent in December, in accordance to authorities information launched on Friday.

The moderation comes after December’s stronger print, although January’s efficiency was supported by strong output in metal and cement.

The mixed Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) measures the manufacturing of coal, crude oil, pure gasoline, refinery merchandise, fertilisers, metal, cement and electrical energy, and accounts for 40.27 per cent of the load in the Index of Industrial Manufacturing (IIP).

On a cumulative foundation, core sector growth stood at 2.8 per cent (provisional) throughout April–January 2025-26 in contrast with the corresponding interval final yr.

Development-linked sectors drive growth

Metal manufacturing rose 9.9 per cent year-on-year in January, whereas cement output expanded 10.7 per cent, indicating sustained momentum in building and infrastructure exercise.

Electrical energy technology elevated 3.8 per cent and fertiliser manufacturing grew 3.7 per cent in the course of the month. Coal output additionally rose 3.1 per cent in contrast with January 2025.

Throughout April–January 2025-26, metal manufacturing elevated 9.8 per cent, cement output rose 9.1 per cent, fertiliser manufacturing grew 1.9 per cent, and electrical energy technology edged up 0.8 per cent.

Oil and gasoline stay beneath strain

The general growth was weighed down by continued contraction in hydrocarbons. Crude oil manufacturing declined 5.8 per cent in January from a yr in the past, whereas pure gasoline output fell 5.0 per cent.For the April–January interval, crude oil manufacturing contracted 2.1 per cent and pure gasoline output dropped 3.4 per cent.

Petroleum refinery merchandise output remained unchanged in January at an index degree of 147.2 (provisional) in contrast with a yr earlier. Cumulatively, refinery manufacturing rose marginally by 0.1 per cent throughout April–January.

Coal manufacturing, regardless of posting a 3.1 per cent improve in January, recorded a marginal cumulative decline of 0.3 per cent in the course of the monetary yr thus far.

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