Core sector output up 5% in September boosted by higher production steel, petroleum products

Core sector industrial production in India expanded by 5 per cent in September this year, on the back of a healthy performance by cement, steel and refinery products, against the 3.7 per cent growth in September last year, the highest in three months.

Core sector industrial production growth remained unchanged in August from the 3.2 per cent growth recorded in July.

Output in the eight core sector industries comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity, which carry nearly 38 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), expanded at a cumulative 4.6 per cent in April-September this fiscal.

Coal production, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in the general index of industrial production, declined by 5.8 per cent in September 2016 while cumulative coal production during April-September  2016-17 increased by 1.2 per cent.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.1 per cent in September 2016 while cumulative production in April-September 2016-17 declined by 3.3 per cent year-on-year.

Production of natural gas (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 5.5 per cent in September, 2016 while its cumulative production in April-September 2016-17 declined by 4.4 per cent.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) increased by 9.3 per cent in September 2016 while its cumulative production during April-September, 2016-17 increased by 7.9 per cent.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent in IIP) increased by 2.0 per cent in September 2016 while its cumulative production during April-September 2016-17 increased by 5.6 per cent.

Production of steel (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) increased by 16.3 per cent in September 2016 while its cumulative production during April-September 2016-17 increased by 7.2  per cent.

Production of cement (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 5.5 per cent in September 2016 while its cumulative production during April-September 2016-17 increased by 4.5 per cent.

Generation of electricity (weight of 10.32 per cent in IIP) increased by 2.2 per cent in September 2016 while its cumulative production during April-September 2016-17 increased by 5.1 per cent.