Core sector output growth slows to 2.8 per cent in May 2009

Core sector industrial output in the country grew 2.8 per cent in May this year against 4.3 per cent in April this year and 3.1 per cent in May 2008. 

The index of six core industries, including cement, finished steel, coal and electricity, and having a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 1993-94 stood at 250.1 (provisional) in May 2009, up 2.8 per cent from the previous month (provisional) compared to a growth rate of 3.1 per cent in May 2008, a government release said.

During April-May 2009-10, the six core industries recorded a growth of 3.9 per cent (provisional) as against 2.7 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight of 4.17 per cent in the IIP) registered a growth of (-)4.3 per cent (provisional) in
May 2009 compared to a growth of 3.2 per cent in May 2008. Crude production registered a growth of (-)3.7 per cent  (provisional) during April-May 2009-10 compared to 2.1 per cent during the same period of 2008-09.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2 per cent in the IIP) registered a growth of (-) 4.3 per cent (provisional) in May 2009, compared to growth of 0.1 per cent in May 2008.

Petroleum refinery production registered a growth of (-)4.4 per cent (provisional) during April-May 2009-10, compared to 2.1 per cent during the same period of 2008-09.