Core sector output expands at a faster pace of 6.8% in November

Core sector industrial production grew at a faster pace of 6.8 per cent in November 2017 against 4.7 per cent in October 2017 and 4.9 per cent in November 2016.

Core sector output was boosted by a 17.7 per cent growth in cement production, a 16.6 per cent growth in steel production and an 8.2 per cent growth in petroleum refinery production in November 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), expanded at a cumulative 3.9 per cent in April-November 2017-18.

Effective April 2017, the base year of the index of eight core industries has been revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12, which is in line with the new base year of Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Production of coal, which has a weight of 10.33 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP) declined by 0.2 per cent in November, while cumulative production of coal increased by 1.5 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Production of crude oil (weight of 8.98 per cent in IIP) increased by 0.2 per cent in November 2017 while cumulative production of crude oil declined by 0.2 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Production of natural gas (weight of 6.88 per cent in IIP) increased by 2.4 per cent in November 2017 while its cumulative production increased by 4.4 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 28.04 per cent in IIP) increased by 8.2 per cent in November 2017 while its cumulative production increased by 3.6 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Fertiliser production (weight of 2.63 per cent in IIP) increased by 0.3 per cent in November 2017 while its cumulative production declined by 1.1 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Steel production (weight of 17.92 per cent in IIP) increased by 16.6 per cent in November 2017 while cumulative steel production increased by 7.2 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Cement production (weight of 5.37 per cent in IIP) increased by 17.3 per cent in November 2017while cumulative cement production increased by 0.6 per cent during April-November 2017-18.

Electricity generation (weight of 19.85 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.9 per cent in November 2017 while cumulative electricity generation increased by 4.9 per cent during April-November 2017-18.