Petroleum refinery products, steel and cement continued to drive the performance of the eight core infrastructure sectors in October 2016 with output increasing 6.6 per cent compared with the same month last year.

Coal, crude oil and natural gas output, however, declined during the month while fertilisers and electricity production grew at a relatively low rate.

The performance of the eight core sectors has been improving since September 2016 when output increased 5 per cent against a 3.2-per-cent increase in July and August. Refinery product, steel and cement had performed well in September as well.

Cumulative growth of the core sectors, which account for about 38 per cent of the country’s industrial production (IIP), during April-October 2016-17 was 4.9 per cent, according to an official release of the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday.

Petroleum refinery production (weight of 5.94 per cent in the IIP) increased 15.1 per cent in October, 2016 compared with the same month last year. Its production in the April-October period increased 8.9 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Steel production (weight of 6.68 per cent in the IIP) posted an year-on-year increase of 16.9 per cent in October. Total production of steel during April-October, 2016-17 rose 8.5 per cent year-on-year.

Cement production (weight of 2.41 per cent in the IIP) increased 6.2 per cent this October compared with last year. Cumulative production during April-October 2016-17 rose 4.8 per cent year-on-year.

Electricity generation (weight of 10.32 per cent in the IIP) increased 2.8 per cent in October 2016 over October 2015. Total electricity generation during April to October 2016-17 increased by 4.7 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year.

Fertiliser production posted a marginal year-on-year increase in October 2016 at 0.8 per cent. In the April-October, 2016-17 increase in fertiliser production was higher at 4.8 per cent compared to corresponding period of previous year.

Coal production (which has a weightage of 4.38 per cent in the IIP) declined 1.6 per cent in October 2016 over October, 2015. Coal production in the April-October period increased by 0.7 per cent year-on-year.

Crude oil production (weight of 5.22 per cent in IIP) declined by 3.2 per cent in October 2016 over October 2015. Total crude oil production in April-October declined by 3.3 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year. Natural gas production (weight of 1.71 per cent) also declined by 1.4 per cent year-on-year in October.

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