Eight core sector industries grew at a year's high of 5.7 per cent in February. It is almost double the rate of 2.9 per cent a month ago. These industries had expanded 2.3 per cent in February last year. The growth is driven by cement and fertilisers. Cement production last month was up 13.5 per cent from a year earlier. Fertiliser output grew an annual 16.3 per cent. Steel showed a fall in output in February.