New Delhi, May 2 (PTI): The eight core sectors of the economy expanded by a 16-month high of 6.4 per cent in March following a pick-up in production of refinery products, fertilisers and cement.

The sectors --coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity – which account for nearly 38 per cent of India's total industrial production, had shrunk to (-)0.7 per cent in March last year.

It is the highest monthly growth since November 2014, when these sectors had expanded by 6.7 per cent.

During the fiscal 2015-16 as a whole, the eight core sectors grew by 2.7 per cent, while it had expanded by 4.5 per cent in 2014-15.

According to the data released by the government, output in refinery products jumped 10.8 per cent as against (-)1.5 per cent recorded in March 2015. Fertiliser production grew 22.9 per cent in March as against 5.2 per cent a year ago.

Similarly, cement output saw a jump of 11.9 per cent while there was decline in March 2015. Power generation saw a significant increase (11.3 per cent) in March 2016 as compared with the same month last year.

Coal production grew by 1.7 per cent, though at a slower pace than 4.5 per cent recorded in March 2015.

Crude oil production shrank in March by (-)5.1 per cent. Natural gas output fell sharply by (-)10.5 per cent year-on-year.