Core sector growth inches up to 2.9 per cent in March
29 Apr 2009
Six core sector industries comprising crude oil, petroleum and refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel recorded a growth of 2.9 per cent in March 2009, slightly higher than the 2.2 per cent growth in the previous month but lower than the 5.9 per cent growth recorded in March 2008.
During April-March 2008-09, the six core industries posted a growth of 2.7 per cent (provisional) as against 5.9 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.
The index of six core sector industries having a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (base 1993-94 = 100) stood at 270.3 (provisional) in March 2009, recording a growth of 2.9 per cent (provisional) compared to a growth of 2.2 per cent in March 2009.
Crude oil production (weight 4.17 per cent in IIP) registered a growth of (–) 2.3 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to a growth rate of (-)0.3 per cent in March 2008. Crude production registered a growth of (-)1.8 (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to 0.4 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2 per cent in the IIP) recorded a growth of 3.3 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to growth of 0.1 per cent in March 2008. Petroleum refinery production registered a growth of 3 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to 6.5 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
Coal production (weight 3.2 per cent in the IIP) grew 5.2 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to a growth of 9.3 per cent in March 2008. Coal production grew 8.1 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to an increase of 6 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
Electricity generation (weight 10.17 per cent in IIP) posted a growth of 5.9 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to a growth rate of 3.6 per cent in March 2008. Electricity generation grew 2.7 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to 6.3 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
Cement production (weight 1.99 per cent in the IIP) recorded a growth of 10.1 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to 9.3 per cent in March 2008. Cement Production grew 7.5 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to an increase of 8.1 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
Finished steel production (weight 5.13 per cent in IIP) registered a growth of (-)2.6 per cent (provisional) in March 2009 compared to (-)0.9 per cent (estimated) in March 2008. Finished steel production grew 0.4 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2008-09 compared to an increase of 6.2 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.
