Core sector output declines 0.6% in October

Core sector industrial production in the country declined by 0.6 per cent in October 2013, reversing a faster pace of expansion of 8.0 per cent recorded in September 2013, showing signs that the government's fast-tracking of infrastructure projects are yet to see results.

The eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity registered a negative growth of (-)0.6 per cent in October 2013.

The index of core sector industries (base 2004-05=100), having a weight of 37.90 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), stood at 155.2 in October 2013, which was 0.6 per cent lower compared to the index of October 2012.

Coal production (having a weight of 4.38 per cent in IIP) declined by 3.9 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012. Cumulative production during April-October 2013-14, however, increased by 1.3 per cent over the corresponding month of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) moderated by 0.8 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012. Cumulative production of crude oil during April-October 2013-14 moderated by 1.2 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 13.6 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012. Cumulative production during April-October 2013-14 declined by 16.1 per cent year-on-year.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent) moderated by 4.8 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012.

Cumulative production during April-October 2013-14 was up 3.7 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 4.1 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012 while cumulative production during April-October 2013-14 increased by 2.7 per cent over the production during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 3.5 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012.

Cumulative production during April-October 2013-14 was up 4.4 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.0 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012.

Cumulative production recorded a growth of 4 per cent during April-October 2013-14 over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.3 per cent in October 2013 over October 2012 and recorded a cumulative growth of 4.8 per cent during April-October 2013-14 over the corresponding period of previous year.