The country's eight infrastructure sectors grew 2.4 per cent in July this year. The infrastructure sector had expanded 3.1 per cent in July last year, and had grown 0.8 per cent in June this year. According to official data, coal production increased 0.7 per cent in July this year, natural gas output grew 6.6 per cent, steel production rose 9.2 per cent, and electricity generation climbed 5.4 per cent. But, crude oil output decreased 0.5 percent in July, petroleum refinery output declined 2.7 per cent, fertilizer production fell 0.3 per cent, and cement production dropped 2 per cent during the month.