The Hindu Business Line : Infrastructure growth down at 0.5 pc in July

THE country's infrastructure sector grew 0.5 per cent in July this year, down from the 11.1-per cent growth recorded by the six core infrastructure industries in July last year, according to a Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement.

The drop is mainly due to a fall in electricity and crude oil production, according to the data.

In June this year, infrastructure output grew 10.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis. For the April-July quarter of the current fiscal, infrastructure output growth slowed to 4.2 per cent, from 8.9 per cent growth in the same period last year.

The growth in July is the second lowest in the core sector in over a year. During the month, actual production of crude oil, coal and electricity generation fell, while the output in the other three sectors also slowed down. Crude oil production dipped 4 per cent during the month compared to the 0.2-per cent growth in July last fiscal. Coal output decreased 1.7 per cent, against a growth of 7.5 per cent, and power generation fell 1.3 per cent from a strong 13.6-per cent growth in the same month last fiscal.

The growth in finished steel production dropped to 3.7 per cent in July (17.2 per cent), while cement output grew 2.3 per cent (8.4 per cent).

The refining sector also slowed down marginally to a 3.6-per cent growth during the month from 3.8 per cent a year ago. Crude oil production declined for the third time this fiscal to 2.75 million tonnes in July, against 2.875 million tonnes (mt) a year ago.

The cumulative crude oil production during the first four months of the current fiscal was 11.174 mt, a decline of 1.5 per cent, against a growth of 4.6 per cent in the same period last fiscal.

Finished steel production rose only 3.7 per cent to 3.606 mt during July 2005 (3.478 mt).

Cumulative steel production during April-July grew 5.4 per cent to 13.746 mt, against a higher growth of 14.4 per cent during the previous corresponding quarter.

Cement production in July stood at 11.013 mt (10.768 mt). Cumulative production during April-July this fiscal grew 10 per cent (4.4 per cent).

The country generated 49.62 billion units of electricity in July, lower than 50.28 billion units in the previous year. Cumulative power generation at 203.926 billion units in April-July this fiscal grew 5.2 per cent, lower than the growth of 7.9 per cent in the year-ago period.

Refinery throughput during July 2005 stood at 10.1 mt (9.745 mt).

Cumulative refining production in April-July 2005 at 38.56 mt, down 2.8 per cent from the 10 per cent growth in the same period a year ago.

Coal output at 28.1 million tonnes was lower than 28.6 mt in the year-ago month.

Production during April-July this year at 117.7 mt grew 5.1 per cent from 6.1 per cent in the same period last year.

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