India's core sector grows at a slower 3.7 per cent in August

The six core sector industries, comprising crude oil, petroleum refinery, coal, electricity, cement and steel, recorded a slower pace of growth of 3.7 per cent (provisional) in August 2010 against the 6.4 growth recorded in August 2009. 

During the April-August 2010-11 period, the six core industries recorded a combined growth of 4.1 per cent (provisional) against 4.8 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The index of the six core industries (base 1993-94 = 100) having a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) stood at 262.9 (provisional) in August 2010.

Production of crude oil (weight of 4.17 per cent in the IIP) rose 15 per cent (provisional) in August 2010 against a growth rate of (-)2.5 per cent in August 2009. Crude oil production, however, recorded a growth of 6.5 per cent (provisional) during April-August 2010-11 against 1.6 per cent during the same period of the previous year.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2 per cent in the IIP) posted a negative growth of 2.3 per cent (provisional) in August 2010 against a growth of 3 per cent in August 2009. Petroleum refinery production recorded a growth of 5.3 per cent (provisional) during April-August 2010-11 against a negative 4.9 per cent growth registered during the same period of 2009-10.

Coal production (weight of 3.2 per cent in the IIP) recorded a growth of 1 per cent (provisional) in August 2010 against a growth rate of 13.3 per cent recorded in August 2009. Coal production grew 0.9 per cent (provisional) during the April-August 2010-11 period against an increase of 12.6 per cent during the same period of 2009-10.