Core sector growth slows to 2.1% in December

Core sector industrial production in the country grew at a slower pace of 2.1 per cent in December 2013, against the 2.7 per cent growth recorded in November 2013, reflecting the slow progress on infrastructure projects.

The eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had recorded a growth of 2.7 per cent in November 2013.

The index of core sector industries (Base: 2004-05=100), having a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), stood at 165.6 in December 2013, which was 2.1 per cent higher compared to the index of December 2012.

Coal production, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in the IIP, declined by 0.6 per cent in December 2013 compared to December 2012. Cumulative production of coal during April-December 2013-14 increased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year.

Production of crude oil (having a weight of 5.22 per cent) increased by 1.6 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012. Cumulative production of crude oil during April-December 2013-14 moderated by 0.6 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Natural gas production (having weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 9.9 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012. Cumulative production of natural gas during April-December 2013-14 declined by 15 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Petroleum refinery production (having weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) moderated by 1.7 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012. However, cumulative production during April-December 2013-14 increased by 2.1 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Fertilizer production (having weight of 1.25 per cent) recorded a growth of 4.1 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012 while cumulative growth of 2.6 per cent during April-December 2013-14 rose 2.6 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Steel production (having weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 3.1 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012. Cumulative growth of production during April-December 2013-14 was 4.2 per cent year-on-year.

Cement production (having weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.1 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012 while cumulative growth during April-December 2013-14 rose 3.7 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Electricity generation (having weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 6.7 per cent in December 2013 over December 2012. Cumulative generation of electricity during April-December 2013 recorded a growth of 5.2 per cent during April-December 2013 over the corresponding period of the previous year.