India's industrial production vaults 16.8 per cent in December

Industrial production in the country grew 16.8 per cent year-on-year in December 2009, on the back of an 82.2 per cent jump in the automobile sector output, a 44.6 per cent rise in capital goods production and a 29.0 per cent rise in chemicals production.

The general index of industrial production (IIP) stood at 331.7 points, which is 16.8 per cent higher than the level in December 2008, quick estimates of industrial production by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) showed.

Cumulative growth of industrial production during the period April-December 2009-10 rose 8.6 per cent from the level in the corresponding period of the pervious year, an official release said.

The indices of production for the mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors stood at 206.0, 360.7, and 235.2, respectively, in December 2009, posting growth rates of 9.5 per cent, 18.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent from December 2008. The three sectors recorded cumulative growths of 8.5 per cent, 9.0 per cent and 5.8 per cent, respectively, during April-December 2009-10, which moved the overall growth in the general index to 8.6 per cent.

As many as fourteen out of the seventeen industry groups have shown positive growth during December 2009 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.

The industry group 'transport equipment and parts' has shown the highest growth of 82.2 per cent, followed by 44.6 per cent in 'machinery and equipment other than transport equipment' and 29.0 per cent in 'basic chemicals and chemical products (except products of petroleum and coal)'.