Core sector production grows 7.8 per cent in July

Core sector industrial production in the country expanded 7.8 per cent in July 2011, helped by higher production of steel and cement and a 13 per cent increase in power generation.

Core sector production had grown at a slower 5.2 per cent in the previous month (June 2011) and 5.7 per cent in July 2010.

The index of eight core sector industries (with base 2004-05), having a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP), stood at 143.22 in July 2011.

Core sector industries, comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum and refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, recorded a growth of 5.0 per cent during the April-June quarter against 6.8 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year (2010-11).

During the first four months of the current financial year (April-July 2011-12), the eight core industries posted a combined growth of 5.8 per cent against the 6.5 per cent growth posted during the corresponding period of the previous year (2010-11).

Coal production, having a weight of 4.38 per cent in the IIP, recorded a growth of 2.4 per cent in July 2011 compared to a 4.5 per cent growth in July 2010. Coal production grew 0.7 per cent during April-July 2011-12 against an increase of 0.6 per cent during the same period of 2010-11.