Index of Core Industries grows 7.9 per cent, led by iron ore and electricity

21 October 2026

The Index of Core Industries grew 7.9 per cent year on year in September 2026 on provisional figures, against a final 5.9 per cent in August 2026. The base year of the index is 2022-23. Iron ore recorded the fastest growth at 18.4 per cent, followed by electricity at 11.4 per cent, coal at 10.7 per cent, refinery products at 10.3 per cent and cement at 9.8 per cent. Steel grew 4.9 per cent. Fertilizers contracted 11.7 per cent, natural gas 4.6 per cent and crude oil 1.4 per cent. The overall index stood at 118.3 for September 2026. Cumulative growth for April to September 2026 was 5.1 per cent, against 2.5 per cent in the same period of the previous year, with the cumulative index at 119.3.