Contracting for the fourth consecutive month, the output of eight core infrastructure industries shrank by 15% in June due to fall in the production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, steel, cement and electricity.
The eight core sectors had expanded by 1.2% in June 2019, data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday showed.
Barring fertilizer, all seven sectors - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement, and electricity - had recorded negative growth in May.
The output of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity declined by 15.5%, 6%, 12 per cent, 8.9%, 33.8%, 6.9%, and 11%, respectively.
During April-June 2020-21, the sector’s output dipped by 24.6% as compared to a positive growth of 3.4% in the same period previous year.
These eight industries account for 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
In May, the sectors’ output contracted by 22%.