India's core sector expands by 2.2 per cent in February

Six core sector industries ---- comprising crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel - recorded a growth of 2.2 per cent in February 2009 compared to a growth rate of 7 per cent in February 2008, showing the first signs of a pick-up in industrial production.

During April-February 2008-09 the six core sector industries registered a growth of 3.0 per cent (provisional) as against 5.8 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.

The index for 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 242.0 (provisional) in February 2009, recording a growth of 2.2 per cent (provisional).

Crude oil production (weight of 4.17 per cent in the IIP) registered a growth of (–) 6.2 per cent (provisional) in February 2009 compared to a growth rate of 2.3 per cent in February 2008. Crude oil production registered a growth of (-)1.7 (provisional) during April-February 2008-09 compared to 0.5 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2 per cent in the IIP) registered a growth of 0.5 per cent (provisional) in February 2009 compared to growth of 5.8 per cent in February 2008. Refinery production grew at 3 per cent (provisional) during April-February 2008-09, compared to 7.2 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.

Coal production (weight of 3.2 per cent in the IIP) registered a growth of 6.0 per cent (provisional) in February 2009 compared to growth rate of 11.6 per cent in February 2008. Coal production grew by 8.7 per cent (provisional) during April-February 2008-09 compared to an increase of 5.6 per cent during the same period of 2007-08.