New Delhi, June 30

The output of eight core sectors grew by 16.8% in May, mainly due to a low base effect and uptick in production of natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity, official data released on Wednesday showed.

The eight infrastructure sectors of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had contracted by 21.4% in May 2020 due to the lockdown restrictions imposed to control the spread of the Covid infections. In March this year, these key sectors had recorded a growth of 11.4%, and 60.9% in April.

According to the Commerce and Industry Ministry data, production of natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity jumped by 20.1%, 15.3%, 59.3%, 7.9% and 7.3% in May, as against (-) 16.8%, (-) 21.3%, (-) 40.4%, (-) 21.4% and (-) 14.8% in May 2020, respectively.

Coal output too rose by 6.9% during the month under review as against a negative growth of 14% in the same month of the previous year.

Fertiliser and crude oil segments recorded a negative growth during the month under review. — PTI

Production of STEEL jump 59%

Production of natural gas, refinery products, steel, cement and electricity jumped by 20.1%, 15.3%, 59.3%, 7.9% and 7.3% in May, as against (-) 16.8%, (-) 21.3%, (-) 40.4%, (-) 21.4% and (-) 14.8% in May 2020, respectively