New Delhi, April 21 (H.S): The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) rose by 3.8% (provisional) in March 2025 compared to March 2024, with positive growth noted in Cement, Fertilizers, Steel, Electricity, Coal, and Refinery Products. The ICI reflects the performance of Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity, which together make up 40.27% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The final growth rate for ICI in December 2024 was 5.1%, and the cumulative growth rate for April to March 2024-25 stands at 4.4% (provisional) compared to the previous year's corresponding period.

Details are as follows:

- Coal (weight: 10.33%) production rose by 1.6% in March 2025 and 5.1% cumulatively from April to March 2024-25.

- Crude Oil (weight: 8.98%) output dropped by 1.9% in March and 2.2% cumulatively.

- Natural Gas (weight: 6.88%) saw a significant decline of 12.7% in March and 1.2% cumulatively.

- Petroleum Refinery Products (weight: 28.04%) grew by 0.2% in March and 2.8% cumulatively.

Fertilizer production (weight: 2.63%) saw an 8.8% increase in March 2025 compared to March 2024, with a cumulative index rise of 2.9% from April 2024 to March 2025 versus the same timeframe in the previous year. Steel production (weight: 17.92%) grew by 7.1% in March 2025 over March 2024, with a cumulative index increase of 6.7% during the April to March period for 2024-25 compared to the prior year. Cement production (weight: 5.37%) rose significantly by 11.6% in March 2025 over March 2024, and its cumulative index increased by 6.3% for the same fiscal period. Electricity generation (weight: 19.85%) experienced a 6.2% uptick in March 2025 relative to March 2024, with a cumulative index growth of 5.1% from April to March, 2024-25.

Notably, data for January to March 2025 is provisional, and the core industries’ index figures are subject to revisions based on updated information. The release date for April 2025’s index is set for May 20, 2025.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar