Overview
- Official provisional data show a three‑month low for the Index of Eight Core Industries after August’s revised 6.5% pace.
- Coal (-1.2%), crude oil (-1.3%), natural gas (-3.8%) and refinery products (-3.7%) contracted on a year‑on‑year basis.
- Steel remained the standout with 14.1% growth, while cement rose 5.3%, electricity increased 2.1% and fertilisers gained 1.6%.
- The eight core sectors carry 40.27% weight in the Index of Industrial Production, pointing to a likely moderation in near‑term industrial readings.
- Reports cited excessive rainfall and flooding as temporary drags on coal and electricity output during the period.