According to the data released by India's Central Statistical Organisation of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the country's general industrial production index (IPI) increased 9.1 percent year on year in September.
Meanwhile, in the first half of the current Indian fiscal year (April 1-September 30), the index rose 6.5 percent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
In September, the production index for basic metal and alloy industries increased by 5.5 percent, while the index for manufacture of metal products and parts, except machinery, declined by 7.6 percent, both compared to September 2008.
In the first six months of the current fiscal year, the index for basic metal and alloy industries increased by 6.8 percent year on year, while a year-on-year drop of 1.6 percent was registered in the manufacture of metal products and parts, except machinery.
On the other hand, according to the monthly economic report for September this year released by the Ministry of Finance, India produced 4.8 million mt of finished steel in August, up 3.14 percent, while in the April-August period, the country's finished steel output increased by 2.56 percent, reaching 22.65 million mt, both compared to corresponding periods of 2008.