India's Core Sector Growth Accelerates To 6.2 Per Cent In April

The eight core sectors contribute 40.27 per cent to the country's Index of Industrial Production

Eight key infrastructure sectors' growth jumped to 6.2 per cent in April on healthy expansion in the production of natural gas, refinery products, and electricity, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry on Friday. The production of eight sectors grew by 6 per cent in March.

The growth of these core sectors, coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement, and electricity, was 4.6 per cent in April 2023. The official data showed that fertiliser output recorded negative growth in April. The production growth of coal, steel and cement slowed down to 7.5 per cent, 7.1 per cent and 0.6 per cent, respectively, against 9.1 per cent, 16.6 per cent and 12.4 per cent in April 2023, respectively.

The eight core sectors contribute 40.27 per cent to the country's Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

The summary of the Index of Eight Core Industries is given below:

Cement: Cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 0.6 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 9.0 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Coal: Coal production (weight: 10.33 per cent) increased by 7.5 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 11.8 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Crude Oil: Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) increased by 1.6 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 0.6 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Electricity: Electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) increased by 9.4 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 7.1 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Fertilisers: Fertiliser production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 0.8 per cent in April 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 3.7 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Natural Gas: Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) increased by 8.6 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 6.1 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Petroleum Refinery Products: Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent) increased by 3.9 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 3.6 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.

Steel: Steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent) increased by 7.1 per cent in April, 2024 over April, 2023. Its cumulative index increased by 12.4 per cent during 2023-24 over corresponding period of the previous year.