The steel sector performance supported the core sector output in September which expanded 3% on year despite the contraction in four of the eight components of the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI).

The growth in September was, however, less than half of 6.5% expansion seen in August, and a three-month low. In September the output of the steel sector that has a weight of 17.92% in the index grew 14.1%, which was higher than 13.6% in August, according to the data released by the department for promotion of industry and internal trade ( DPIIT ).

The ICI grew 2.4% in September last year.

Other sectors that expanded year-on-year included cement which grew 5.3%, electricity (2.1%) and fertilizers (1.6%). The output of natural gas was down 3.8% on year and the petroleum refining sector w

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