When the Indian government released the first set of core infrastructure figures under a new 2022–2023 base year, the 5% year-on-year rise recorded in June 2026 immediately stood out. South Africa’s opportunity lies in ensuring that its own producers and logistics systems are ready to meet the call when that expansion continues.
WHEN the Indian government released the first set of core infrastructure figures under a new 2022–2023 base year, the 5% year-on-year rise recorded in June 2026 immediately stood out. It was the fastest monthly expansion in five months and lifted the April–June quarterly performance to 3.6%.
Behind the headline lay a deliberate methodological decision by the Indian government to modernise the index by adding iron ore and updating weights to reflect the contemporary structure of the Indian economy.
For South Africa, whose mining sector remains a cornerstone of export earnings, the data carry both commercial opportunity and a cautionary message about logistics and policy consistency.
Sectoral detail in the report reveals the sources of strength and weakness for India. Iron ore production jumped 43.9% from a revised 19% in May. Cement and electricity each grew 9.8%. Steel production advanced to 4.6% and coal recovered to 1.4% growth after a previous-month contraction. Offsetting these gains were continued declines in crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertilisers, ranging from 3.3% to 7.4%.
