The output of the six core infrastructure industries grew by 7.1 per cent in January 2011, supported by the healthy expansion of sectors like crude oil, petroleum refinery products and electricity.

The six core sectors — crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel —— had expanded by 9.8 per cent in January 2010.

In December 2010, the output of these sectors grew by 6.1 per cent. These core industries account for 26.68 per cent of the country’s total industrial output.

Petroleum refinery and crude oil output grew by 8.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent in January from 3.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent, respectively, in the same period last year, according to the data released today by the Industry Ministry.

Electricity generation grew by a healthy 9.3 per cent during the month under review compared with 6.4 per cent in January 2010. However, coal output contracted by 1.2 per cent in January 2011, in contrast to 5.4 per cent expansion in the corresponding period last year.

Growth in cement production slowed to 1.8 per cent from 12.4 per cent and finished steel to 8.2 per cent from 16.8 per cent.

During April-January of the current fiscal, the six core industries registered a growth of 5.6 per cent against 5.5 per cent in the same period last fiscal.

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