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New Delhi , Dec. 14

THE bullish growth in the manufacturing sector continued during April-September 2003, an update survey conducted by the Associated Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-Ascon) shows.

In a statement, the chamber has said that the survey shows significant growth in the number of sectors having recorded growth of more than 20 per cent or recording growth between 10 per cent and 20 per cent as compared to the previous year. The bullish trend, the statement said, is due to the revival in the economy and a pick-up in overall demand in many sectors, which were registering either moderate or negative growth earlier.

The survey shows that of the 133 sectors reporting production figures, 16 have recorded growth of more than 20 per cent as compared to only nine sectors during the previous survey. Further, 35 sectors have reported growth of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent as against 42 sectors earlier, while 59 sectors have registered a growth of about 0-10 per cent as against 55 sectors during the earlier survey. Only 23 sectors have registered a negative growth as compared to 28 sectors during the earlier survey.

The chamber statement noted that during the same period in the previous year, of the 131 sectors, 17 sectors recorded growth of more than 20 per cent, 29 recorded growth of between 10 and 20 per cent while 59 registered a growth of between 0 and 10 per cent. In addition, 26 sectors showed negative growth.

The survey shows that though there has been a decline in the number of sectors reporting growth of more than 20 per cent as compared with the previous corresponding period, there has been an increase in the number of sectors achieving growth of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent. Significantly, there has been a decline in the number of sectors registering negative growth compared to the previous corresponding period.

The survey shows that machine tools, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, utility vehicles, cars, three-wheelers, aluminium, fluid power components have recorded growth of more than 20 per cent.

Electronic components, ball and roller bearings, paints, sponge iron, soda ash have recorded growth of between 10 and 20 per cent. Besides, forgings, beer, biscuit industry have also achieved a growth of between 10 and 20 per cent while aluminium, utility vehicles, carbon dioxide gas and cars have achieved registered growth of 20 per cent this time as compared to a growth of 0-10 per cent achieved in the last quarter.

The survey also shows that hydrogen gas, processed fruit and vegetables have achieved growth of between 0 and 10 per cent. Mopeds, vanaspati, black and white television sets, edible and groundnut oil, cigarettes and tobacco are on the negative list. However, some sectors that have moved from negative to positive growth, as compared with the corresponding period last year, are cars, scooters, utility vehicles, diesel engines, textile machinery and hydro-electric power. Further, fertiliser, edible and crude oils, as also toilet soap slumped to the negative category from being positive during April-March 2002-03, the survey shows.

The survey shows that six sectors have achieved sales growth of more than 20 per cent, while 22 sectors have registered growth of between 10 and 20 per cent, and 48 sectors have indicated low or negative sales growth. Fluid power components, machine tools, cars, light commercial vehicles, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, utility vehicles have recorded sales growth in excess of 20 per cent, while aluminium, paints, soda ash, auto components, diesel engines, rubber goods, are among those which have reported growth in sales of between 10 and 20 per cent.

The sectors that achieved negative sales growth are caustic soda, crude oil, oil and gas equipment, textile machinery and electrical cables, among others.

The survey shows that cars, three-wheelers, motorcycles, auto components, cement, ball and roller bearings, polyester staple fibre, polyester filament yarn have recorded more than 20 per cent export growth in the present quarter of the current financial year. Pig iron, black and white televisions however, recorded negative growth when compared to April-September 2002.

The survey reveals that the sectors that are still negative in both the quarters of comparison, are pig iron, phosphate fertiliser, black and white television sets, tea and textile machinery. The sectors that have moved from negative to positive growth include light commercial vehicles, utility vehicles and scooters.

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