India's core sector output records 4.5% growth in February

Core sector industrial production in the country grew at a faster pace of 4.5 per cent in February 2014, helped by increased output in electricity, oil refining and steel industries.

Its output grew at a smaller pace of 1.6 per cent in January, dragged down by poor output of coal, petroleum refinery products and natural gas.

The eight core sector industries comprising fertilisers, cement, steel, electricity, crude oil, coal, petroleum refinery products and natural gas, having a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the general index of industrial production (IIP), recorded a growth of 2.6 per cent during the April-February compared with 6.9 per cent in the same period of 2012-13.

Coal production, which has a weight of 4.38 per cent in IIP, increased by 0.1 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013. Cumulative production of coal during April-February 2013-14 increased by 0.9 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) increased by 1.9 per cent year-on-year in February 2014. Cumulative production of crude oil during April-February 2013-14 declined by 0.1 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent in IIP) declined by 4.4 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013. Cumulative production during April-February 2013-14 declined by 13.3 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 3.2 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013 while cumulative refinery production during April-February 2013-14 increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year.

Fertilizer production (weight of 1.25 per cent) declined by 0.7 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013. However cumulative production grew 2.2 per cent year-on-year during April-February 2013-14.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in IIP) recorded a growth of 4.8 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013. Cumulative production during April-February 2013-14 stood at 4.2 per cent over the corresponding period of the previous year.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in IIP) increased by 2.3 per cent year-on-year in February 2014while cumulative growth during April-February 2013-14 stood at 3.3 per cent compared to the growth in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent) increased by 10.4 per cent in February 2014 over February 2013 while cumulative growth during April-February 2013-14 stood at 5.7 per cent year-on-year.