Industrial output in India expanded by 5.1% from the previous year in May of 2026, picking up from the 4.9% increase in the previous month and ahead of market expectations of 4.7%.
It was the sharpest pace of growth since February, when cheaper energy prices before the outbreak of war in the Middle East provided a better macroeconomic backdrop for Indian goods producers, who rely on energy that is mostly imported.
Manufacturing output growth, which accounts for 76% of domestic industrial production, eased to 5.5% from 6.1% in the previous month.
In turn, the softer oil, gas, and mid-month pullback in coal prices aided electricity and utility generation to a 9.9% growth rate from 4.6% in April.
Mining and quarrying output contracted by 1.6%, slowing from the sharper 3.8% contraction in April.