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NEW DELHI, Dec. 8

THE consumer durables sector has continued to grow steadily during April-November 2002 as compared to the same period in the previous year, according to the latest Ascon industry survey conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The survey shows that growth has been driven both by exports as well as sustained domestic demand. It indicates that while production is falling in some sectors, it is rising steeply in others.

This has particularly been reflected in the vehicle industry. The survey shows that while the production of motorcycles has increased by 43 per cent, that of scooters has decreased by 11 per cent and mopeds by 15 per cent.

Cars, on the other hand, have shown a low growth of 6 per cent. Production of medium and heavy commercial vehicles has gone up by 27 per cent while that of light commercial vehicles has increased by 32 per cent. Similarly, car tyre production has increased by 15 per cent and bus and truck tyres up by 10 per cent.

The trend is almost similar in the consumer electronic industry. The survey shows that the more expensive VCR, VCP and DVD sector has grown by 50 per cent, but audio products have gone up by 5 per cent. Colour televisions production has risen by 25 per cent while black and white television production has dropped by 20 per cent. In the home appliances industry, air conditioner production has gone up by 20 per cent, but water coolers are growing at only 6 per cent. The production of other white goods is also coming down with refrigerator production increasing by only 5 per cent while production of washing machines has increased by 2 per cent. The relatively higher-technology personal computers industry has grown by 8 per cent, but the relatively lower-technology clocks and watches industry has risen by 10 per cent each.

The survey also shows that exports of some goods are growing rapidly. Car exports have gone up by 32 per cent, while motorcycles have registered a jump of 132 per cent. However, the growth in exports of three-wheelers is the most impressive, having risen by 242 per cent. The exports of medium and heavy commercial vehicles have also risen by 22 per cent, while colour televisions and other consumer electronics exports have gone up by 20 per cent each.

Meanwhile, CII's Manufacturing Council, comprising 115 heads of sectoral associations affiliated to CII and head of CII divisions, is to meet with the Adviser to the Finance Minister, Dr Vijay Kelkar, in Mumbai on Monday.

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Car production growth low, but exports rise: CII

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