Core sector bounces back, grows 6.8 per cent in February
29 Mar 2012
Core sector industrial production in the country picked up momentum towards the close of the fiscal, growing 6.8 per cent in February 2012 against a slow 0.5 per cent growth during the previous month.
The pick-up in growth momentum was due mainly to improvements in the performance of core sector industries like coal, cement and electricity.
The eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, petroleum refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity had recorded a combined growth of 6.4 per cent in February 2011.
The index of the eight core sector industries having a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), with base 2004-05=100, stood at 145.6 in February 2012, showing a growth of 6.8 per cent year-on-year compared to a growth rate of 6.4 per cent in February 2011.
During April-February 2011-12, core sector industrial production in the country grew at a cumulative rate of 4.4 per cent against a 5.8 per cent growth during the corresponding period in 2010-11.
Coal production during the month recorded a growth of 17.8 per cent against a (-) 5.8 per cent growth registered in February 2011. Cumulative growth of coal production during April-February 2011-12 stood at 0.4 per cent against (-) 0.1 per cent during the same period of 2010-11.
