Core sector output up 5% in September; steel, petroleum products shine

New Delhi: On the back of a healthy performance by cement, steel and refinery products, India's core sector output for the month of September grew by 5 percent against the 3.7 percent in the same month last year, the highest in three months.

The growth rate of the eight infrastructure sectors - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity - in September 2015 was 3.7 percent.

In August, growth in the eight core sectors of the economy rose 3.2 percent as compared to the same reading of 3.2 percent in July.

The 5 percent output was backed by huge growth rate of 9.3 percent in petroleum refinery production, 16.3 percent in steel production, as per government data.

Cement production, electricity and fertilization productions all grew by 5.5 percent, 2.2 percent and 2.0 percent respectively.

However, India's industrial growth shrunk for second straight month in August, down 0.7 percent poor production in mining and manufacturing sectors.

However, production in sectors of coal, crude oil and natural gas declined by 5.8 percent, 4.1 percent and 5.5 percent respectively.