Core sector output growth declines by 0.1 per cent in March

Core sector industrial production in the country showed negative growth in March 2015 at (-) 0.1 per cent, steadily falling from 1.4 per cent in February 2015, 1.8 per cent in January and 2.4 per cent in December 2014.

The index of core sector production fell on the back of a decline in the production of natural gas and refinery production, which registered declines of 1.5 per cent and 1.3 per cent, respectively. Steel production also declined by 4.4 per cent while cement production was down 4.2 per cent.

The eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity had grown at a faster pace of 2.5 per cent in March last year.

The index of core sector industries (Base: 2004-05=100), which has a weight of nearly 38 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), had shown a cumulative growth of 3.5 per cent during April-February 2014-15.

Coal production, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP) increased by 6.0 per cent year-on-year in March 2015. Cumulative production in April-March 2014-15 increased by 8.2 per cent.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.7 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production in April-March 2014-15 declined by 0.9 per cent.

Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.5 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 declined by 5.2 per cent.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) declined by 1.3 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 increased by 0.4 per cent.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent in IIP) increased by 5.2 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 declined by 0.1 per cent.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.4 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 increased by 0.5 per cent.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.2 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 increased by 5.6 per cent.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.7 per cent in March 2015 while cumulative production during April-March 2014-15 increased by 8.0 per cent.