Core sector industrial production in the country expanded at a slower pace of 2.6 per cent in April 2019 against a 4.7 per cent growth recorded in March. Core sector output had expanded 4.7 per cent in April 2018.
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), grew 4.3 per cent in the first month (April) of 2018-19, official data showed.
Expansion of key sectors were slackened by a decline in the production of crude oil and chemical fertilisers and sluggish performance in natural gas production and petroleum refinery output
Production of coal, which has a weight of 10.33 per cent in the overall index of industrial production (IIP) increased by 2.8 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative production of coal increased by 7.4 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Production of crude oil (weight of 8.98 per cent in IIP) declined by 6.9 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative oil production declined by 4.1 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Production of natural gas (weight of 6.88 per cent in IIP) declined by 0.8 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative production of natural gas increased by 0.8 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Petroleum refinery production (weight of 28.04 per cent in IIP) increased by 4.3 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative refinery throughput increased by 3.1 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Production of chemical fertilizers (weight of 2.63 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.4 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative fertiliser production increased by 0.3 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Production of steel (weight of 17.92 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.5 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative steel production increased by 4.7 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Cement production (weight of 5.37 per cent in IIP) increased by 0.8 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative cement production increased by 13.3 per cent during April-March 2018-19.
Electricity generation (weight of 19.85 per cent in IIP) increased by 5.8 per cent in April 2019 while cumulative generation of electricity increased by 5.2 per cent during April-March 2018-19.