Core sector output expands at 5.3% in February
02 Apr 2018
Core sector industrial production in India grew at 5.3 per cent in February, helped by a robust performance of refinery products, fertiliser and cement segments. The growth rate, however, was slower compared to the 6.7 per cent growth recorded in January, data released by the commerce ministry showed.
Core sector output was boosted by a 7.8 per cent growth in petroleum refinery production, a 5.3 per cent increase in fertiliser production, a 22.9 per cent increase in cement production and an 8.2 per cent increase in electricity generation.Core sector output had expanded just 0.6 per cent in February 2017.
Output in the eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity, which carry nearly 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), grew by 4.3 per cent in April-February 2017-18 against 4.7 per cent in the same period last fiscal.
Petroleum refinery production expanded 7.8 per cent in February against a negative 2.8 per cent growth in the year-ago period, according to the official data released today.
Electricity generation grew 4 per cent in February against 1.2 per cent in February 2017.
Production of coal and steel slowed to 1.4 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, during February against 6.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent, respectively, in the same month last year.