India’s core infrastructure industries expanded at a stronger pace in December 2025, signalling tentative rebound in industrial activity that underpins urban development and infrastructure demand. Official government data show the combined Index of Eight Core Industries grew 3.7 per cent year-on-year in December, marking the fastest growth in four months and offering a clearer signal of demand in construction-linked segments.Â
The core sector index — a bellwether for broader industrial output accounting for over 40 per cent of India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) — has regained momentum after a slower November, when growth was revised to 2.1 per cent. Cement and steel, essential materials for urban infrastructure and real estate projects, emerged as the principal drivers. Cement output surged sharply, while steel production rose robustly, pointing to persistent construction and housing demand that could support job creation and supply chain activity. Beyond these construction inputs, electricity generation and fertiliser production also posted positive growth, reflecting broader energy and agribusiness activity. Coal output strengthened modestly, further supporting the manufacturing and power sectors. Yet, the picture across sectors remains uneven.
Energy-related segments continued to lag. Crude oil and natural gas production contracted in December, while refinery products output edged lower, tempering the upside in the headline data and underscoring structural challenges in domestic energy supply. From an economic perspective, the December improvement matters because core industries are foundational to supply chains and large capital projects. Growth in materials like cement and steel suggests that investment in roads, transit corridors, and urbanscape projects is sustaining activity despite global headwinds and sectoral slowdowns elsewhere. Urban planners and infrastructure investors track these core metrics closely as proxies for construction demand, logistics capacity utilisation, and industrial job prospects.However, cumulative figures for April–December 2025-26 show a 2.6 per cent expansion, lagging the 4.5 per cent gain a year earlier, indicating that mid-year activity remained constrained. This slower pace over nine months reflects both the drag from hydrocarbon sectors and the slow pace of recovery in energy-intensive manufacturing.
Analysts point out that while sequential gains in December bring relief, the growth is not yet broad-based. The divergence between resilient construction inputs and weak energy output highlights structural imbalances in India’s industrial landscape. Sustained recovery will depend on both diversifying energy sources and accelerating demand for urban infrastructure and housing. Urban developers and policymakers will be watching the January to March data closely for clearer signals on economic momentum.
