The summarized Index of Eight Core Industries with 2004-05 base is given at the Annexure.

The Eight core industries have a combined weight of 37.90 per cent in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The combined Index was 164.5 in March 2013 with a growth rate of 2.9% compared to their 3.0% growth in March 2012. The marginal decline in growth in March, 2013 was on account of negative growth witnessed in the production of Natural Gas and low growth recorded in the production of Coal and Crude Oil.

During April-March 2012-13, the cumulative growth rate of the Core industries was 2.6 % compared to their growth at 5.0% during the corresponding period in 2011-12.

Coal

Coal production (weight: 4.38%) registered a growth of 0.3% in March 2013 compared to its growth at 7.3% in March 2012. In cumulative terms, Coal production recorded a growth of 3.3% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its growth at 1.3% during the same period of 2011-12.

Crude Oil

Crude Oil production (weight: 5.22%) registered a growth of 0.2% in March 2013 compared to its (-) 2.9% growth in March 2012. Cumulatively, Crude Oil production recorded a growth of (-) 0.6% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its growth at 1.0% during the same period of 2011-12.

Natural Gas

The growth rate of Natural Gas production (weight: 1.71%) was negative both in March, 2013 at (-) 17.7% and in March 2012 at (-) 9.9%. Cumulatively also, Natural Gas production registered a negative growth of (-) 14.5% during April-March 2012-13 and (-) 8.9% during the same period of 2011-12.

Petroleum Refinery Products (0.93% of Crude Throughput)*

Petroleum refinery production (weight: 5.94%) had a growth of 5.6% in March 2013 compared to its growth at 1.6% in March 2012. In cumulative terms, Petroleum refinery production registered a growth of 6.9% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its 3.1% growth during the same period of 2011-12.

Fertilizers

Fertilizer production (weight: 1.25%) registered a growth of 3.6% in March 2013 against its growth at 1.5% in March 2012. Cumulatively, Fertilizer production registered a growth of (-) 3.4% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its 0.4% growth during the same period of 2011-12.

Steel (Alloy + Non-Alloy)

Steel production (weight: 6.68%) had a growth rate of 6.6% in March 2013 against its 6.2% growth in March 2012. Cumulatively, Steel production registered 2.5% growth during April-March 2012-13 compared to its 10.3% growth during the same period of 2011-12.

Cement

Cement production (weight: 2.41%) registered a growth of 6.6% in March 2013 against its 7.1% growth in March 2012. The cumulative growth of Cement Production was 5.6% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its 6.7% growth during the same period of 2011-12.

Electricity

Electricity generation (weight: 10.32%) had a 3.0% growth in March 2013 compared to its 2.8% growth in March 2012. The cumulative growth of Electricity generation was 4.0% during April-March 2012-13 compared to its 8.1% growth during the same period of 2011-12.

* RPL (SEZ) with refining capacity 29MMT was commissioned on 25.12.2008 but crude throughput not reported by the refinery and not included in production for entire period.

N.B: Data are provisional. Revision has been made based on revised data obtained.

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DS/RK

(Release ID :95367)

Index of Eight Core Industries shows mixed sectoral growth, with natural gas decline and weaker coal and crude oil performance. The Index of Eight Core Industries recorded a combined growth of 2.9% in March 2013 (index 164.5), marginally below the prior year's 3.0%, largely due to negative Natural Gas output and weak Coal and Crude Oil performance; sectoral results were mixed, cumulative April-March growth declined relative to the previous year, data are provisional and a refinery's crude throughput was excluded from the series.