Core sector output growth revs up to 5.7% in February

Core sector industrial production in the country gathered pace in February, expanding at 5.7 per cent against 2.9 per cent in January and a growth of 0.9 per cent in December 2015, extending the uptrend for a third month.

Output in the eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity, and carry nearly 38 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), expanded by 1.4 per cent in February 2015.

Core sector output growth, which showed a volatile trend since April this year, recorded cumulative growth of 2.3 per cent in April-February this fiscal.

Production of coal, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) increased by 3.9 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative production of coal during April-February 2015-16 increased by 5.0 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) increased by 0.8 per cent in February while cumulative production of crude oil during April-February 2015-16 decreased by 1.0 per cent.

Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.2 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative production of natural gas during April-February 2015-16 declined by 3.6 per cent.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) increased by 8.1 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative refinery production during April-February 2015-16 increased by 3.1 per cent.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent in IIP) increased by 16.3 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative production of fertiliser during April-February 2015-16 increased by 10.3 per cent.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) declined by 0.5 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative production of steel during April-February 2015-16 declined by 1.8 per cent.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 13.5 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative cement production during April-February 2015-16 increased by 3.9 per cent.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 9.2 per cent in February 2016 while cumulative production during April-February 2015-16 increased by 4.6 per cent.