The Ministry of Commerce & Industry in its latest data has showed that eight key infrastructure sectors’ output growth slowed to 0.4% (provisional) in March 2026 as compared to 4.5% in the same month of last year (March 2025). The slowed down was owed to a contraction in the output of coal, crude oil, fertilizers and electricity. For the month of February 2026, the growth rate has been revised upward to 2.8% from provisional estimation of 2.3% (released in previous month). Further, the cumulative production in the infrastructure sectors grew 2.6% (provisional) during April-March 2025-2026 (FY26) against to 4.5% in the corresponding period of last year.

Coal production having 10.33% weight decreased by 4.0% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index declined by 0.5% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Crude Oil production having 8.98% weight declined by 5.7% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index declined by 2.8% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Fertilizer production having 2.63% weight declined by 24.6% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index declined by 0.1% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Electricity generation having 19.85% weight declined by 0.5% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index increased by 0.9% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year.

On the other hand, Natural Gas production having 6.88% weight increased by 6.4% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index declined by 2.8% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Petroleum Refinery production having 28.04% weight increased by 0.1% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index declined by 0.1% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Steel production having 17.92% weight increased by 2.2% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index increased by 9.1% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Cement production having 5.37% weight increased by 4.0% in March, 2026 over March, 2025, while its cumulative index increased by 8.6% during April to March, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year.