The output of eight core infrastructure sectors slowed down to 4.5 per cent in July, the lowest in six months, against 9.9 per cent in the year-ago period, according to the government data released on Wednesday. In June, the core sector output was 12.7 per cent.
The output of these infrastructure sectors expanded by 13.2 per cent in June, 19.3 per cent in May, 9.5 per cent in April, 4.8 per cent in March, 5.9 per cent in February, and 4 per cent in January.
The production growth of eight infrastructure sectors — coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity — was 11.5 per cent in April-July this fiscal against 21.4 per cent a year ago.
Crude oil and natural gas production contracted by 3.8 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively, during the month under review.
The production of coal, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, electricity, and cement industries increased in July 2022 over the corresponding period of last year.
ICI measures combined and individual performance of production in selected eight core industries such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement, and electricity. The eight core sectors comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
The summary of the index of eight core industries is given below:
Coal – Coal production (weight: 10.33 per cent) increased by 11.4 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 26.6 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over corresponding period of the previous year.
Crude Oil – Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) declined by 3.8 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index declined by 0.5 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Natural Gas – Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) declined by 0.3 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 3.5 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Petroleum Refinery Products –Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent) increased by 6.2 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 11.7 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Fertilizers – Fertilizers production (weight: 2.63 per cent) increased by 6.2 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 11.3 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Steel – Steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent) increased by 5.7 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 6.5 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Cement – Cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 2.1 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 13.3 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.
Electricity – Electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) increased by 2.2 per cent in July, 2022 over July, 2021. Its cumulative index increased by 13.1 per cent during April to July, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of previous year.