Core infrastructure industries output up 7.1 pc in January

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 the core infrastructure 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, data released by the Industry Ministry today revealed.

Electricity generation grew by a healthy 9.3 per cent in the month under review, compared to 6.4 per cent in January 2010, the data said.

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 in the month under review from 12.4 per cent in January, 2010.

Growth in finished steel production slowed to 8.2 per cent in January, 2011, from 16.8 per cent in the comparable period a year ago.

During the April?January period of the current fiscal, the six core industries registered a growth of 5.6 per cent, compared to 5.5 per cent expansion in the same period last year.