Core sector output growth hits a 2-month high of 5.8% in August

Core sector industrial production growth in India accelerated to a two-month high of 5.8 per cent in August, helped by a jump in steel and coal production, official data released today showed.

The core sector industries comprising fertiliser, cement, steel, electricity, crude oil, coal, petroleum refinery products and natural gas, had recorded a growth of 3.71 per cent in August last year.

The index of core sector production (Base: 2004-05=100) had pointed to a slowing of industrial activity at 2.7 per cent in July.

Cumulative production growth of the eight core sector industries, which have a combined weight of 38 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), during April-August 2014-15 stood at 4.4 per cent.

The expansion in production in August was aided by an increase in the production of steel and coal, despite constraints imposed by mining bans.

Coal production, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in IIP, increased by 13.4 per cent year-on-year in August 2014 while cumulative production during April-August 2014-15 increased by 7.2 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Crude oil production (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.9 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative index of production during April-August 2014-15 declined by 1.2 per cent year-on-year.

Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 8.3 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production for April-August 2014-15 declined by 5.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.3 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production during April-August 2014-15 declined by 2.7 per cent year-on-year.

Fertiliser production (weight of 1.25 per cent year-on-year) declined by 4.3 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production growth during April-August 2014-15 stood at 2.8 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) increased by 9.1 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production during April-August 2014-15 increased by 2.0 per cent year-on-year.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 10.3 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production during April-August 2014-15 grew at 11.0 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 12.6 per cent in August 2014 while cumulative production recorded a growth of 11.3 per cent year-on-year during April-August 2014-15.