India's core sector industrial production rises 7 per cent in October

India's core sector industrial production grew at 7.0 per cent (provisional) year-on-year in October 2010 against a low 3.9 per cent in October 2009 and an even slower 2.5 per cent in September this year.

During April-October 2010-11, the six core sector industries comprising crude oil, petroleum refinery, coal, electricity, cement and steel, posted a growth of 4.5 per cent (provisional), similar to that of the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (having a weight of 4.17 per cent in the general index of industrial production) grew at a fast pace of 13.7 per cent (provisional) in October 2010 against a negative growth of (-) 2.1 per cent in October 2009. Crude production rose 10.7 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against (-) 1.3 per cent during the same period of 2009-10.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2.00 per cent in IIP) grew at a negative (-) 4.8 per cent (provisional) in October 2010 against a growth of 7.2 per cent in October 2009. Refinery production grew at 1.4 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against a negative (-) 2.0 per cent growth during the same period of 2009-10.

Coal production (weight of 3.2 per cent in IIP) grew at a marginal 0.8 per cent (provisional) in October 2010 against a growth of 6.8 per cent in October 2009. Coal production grew at a negative (-) 0.1 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against an increase of 11.4 per cent during the same period of 2009-10. 

Electricity generation (weight of 10.17 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 8.4 per cent (provisional) in October 2010 against a growth of 4.4 per cent in October 2009.  Electricity generation rose 4.7 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against 6.1 per cent during the same period of 2009-10.

Cement production (weight of 1.99 per cent in IIP) posted a 16.8 per cent (provisional) growth in October 2010 against a 5.3 per cent growth recorded in October 2009. Cement production grew 6.3 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against an increase of 11.3 per cent during the same period of 2009-10.

Production of finished (carbon) steel (weight of 5.13 per cent in IIP) grew at 6.2 per cent (provisional) in October 2010 against 2.5 per cent (estimated) in October 2009. Finished steel production grew 4.2 per cent (provisional) during April-October 2010-11 against an increase of 1.8 per cent recorded in the same period of 2009-10.