Core sector growth accelerates to 5.1 per cent in April

The six core industries comprising crude oil, refineries, steel, cement, coal and electricity registered a combined growth of 5.1 per cent (provisional) in April 2010 compared with 3.7 per cent growth registered in April 2009.

The core sector index having a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) with base 1993-94 stood at 259.6 (provisional) in April 2010.

During April-March 2009-10, the six core industries reregistered a growth of 5.5 per cent (provisional) against 3.0 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Production of crude oil production (having a weight of 4.17 per cent in the IIP) recorded a growth of 5.2 per cent (provisional) in April 2010 against a growth rate of (-) 3.1 per cent in April 2009. Crude production registered a growth of 0.5 (provisional) during April-March 2009-10 compared with (-) 1.8 per cent during the same period of 2008-09.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 2 per cent in IIP) posted a growth of 5.3 per cent (provisional) in April 2010 against (-) 4.5 per cent in April 2009. Petroleum refinery production grew at (-) 0.4 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2009-10 against 3.0 per cent during the same period of 2008-09.

Coal production (weight of 3.2 per cent in IIP) grew at (-) 2.3 per cent (provisional) in April 2010 against a growth rate of 14.2 per cent in April 2009. Coal production grew 8.2 per cent (provisional) during April-March 2009-10 compared with an increase of 8 per cent during the same period of 2008-09.