India’s core sector output growth slows to 3.4% in January

Core sector industrial production in India expanded at a slower pace of 3,4 per cent in January 2017 compared to the 5.6 per cent growth recorded in December 2016, but faster than the pace of 2.9 per cent recorded in January 2016, preliminary figures released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) showed.

Output in the eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity, which carry nearly 38 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), expanded at a cumulative 4.8 per cent in April-January 2016-17.

Production of coal, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIOP) increased by 4.8 per cent in January 2017 while its          cumulative production during April-January 2016-17 increased by 2.3 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.3 per cent in January 2017 while cumulative production of coal during April-January 2016-17 declined by 2.8 per cent year-on-year.

Production of natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) increased by 11.9 per cent in January 2017 while its cumulative production during April-January 2016-17 declined by 1.9 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.5 per cent in January 2017 while its cumulative production during April-January 2016-17 increased by 6.8 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.6 per cent in January 2017 while its cumulative production during April-January 2016-17 increased by 2.9 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) increased by 11.4 per cent in January 2017 while its cumulative production during April-January 2016-17 increased by 9.2 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) declined by 13.3 per cent in January 2017 while its cumulative index during April-January 2016-17 increased by 1.0 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 4.8 percent in January 2017 while its cumulative index during April-January 2016-17 increased by 5.4 % over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Note 1: Data are provisional. Revision has been made based on revised data received for corresponding month of previous year in respect of Coal, Crude Oil, Refinery Products, Fertilizer, Steel, Cement and Electricity. Accordingly, indices for the month of January, 2016 have been revised.