Core sector growth slows to 1.4 per cent in January

The growth rate of six core sector industries stood lower at 1.4 per cent in January 2009 against 2.3 per cent in December 2008 and 3.6 per cent in the same month of the previous year.

The index of the six core sector industries, having a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (with base 1993-94+100) stood at 250.6 (provisional) in January 2009, up 1.4 per cent (provisional) from the previous month against a growth rate of 3.6 per cent in January  2008, data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed.

During April-January 2008-09, the six core sector industries recorded a growth of 3.2 per cent (provisional) as against 5.7 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil (weight 4.17 per cent) registered a negative growth of (–) 8.1 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to -0.3 per cent in December 2008 and -0.2 per cent in January 2008. Crude oil production registered a growth of -1.3 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to 0.3 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.

Petroleum refinery production (weight 2.00 per cent) registered a growth of (-) 2.6 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to a growth of 3 per cent in December 2008 and 5.4 per cent in January 2008. Refinery production registered a growth of 3.1 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to 7.3 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.

Coal production (weight 3.2 per cent) posted a growth of 6.3 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to growth rate of 9 per cent in December 2008 and 7.9 per cent in January 2008. Coal production grew by 8.8 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to an increase of 4.8 per cent during the
same period of 2007-08.

Electricity generation (weight 10.17 per cent) recorded a growth of 1.4 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to a 0.7 per cent in December 2008 and 3.7 per cent in January 2008. Electricity generation grew by 2.5 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to 6.3 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.

Cement production (weight 1.99 per cent) registered a growth of 8.3 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to 11.6 per cent in December 2008 and 5.6 per cent in January 2008. Cement Production grew by 7.1 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to an increase of 7.4 per cent during the same
period of 2007-08.

Finished steel production (weight 5.13 per cent) registered a growth of 1.2 per cent (provisional) in January 2009 compared to a negative (-) 0.8 per in December 2008 and 2.0 per cent (estimated) in January 2007. Finished steel production grew by 2.3 per cent (provisional) during April-January 2008-09 compared to an increase of 5.9 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.