The output of eight core infrastructure industries shrank by 6.5 percent in March due to fall in production of crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity amid the coronavirus lockdown. The eight core sectors had expanded by 5.8 per cent in March 2019.

Production of crude oil dropped 5.5 percent; production  of natural gas tanked 15.2 percent; growth of refinery products slipped 0.5 percent; fertiliser production dropped 11.9 percent, steel production declined 13 percent, cement production slumped 24.7 percent and electricity generation plunged 7.2 percent.

Coal production fell 4.1 percent in March, from 9.1 per cent in March 2019.

During the April-March 2019-20 period, core industries recorded 0.6 percent growth, against 4.4 percent in 2018-19.