Electricity, fertiliser, coal cement boost core sector

New Delhi: Helped by healthy growth in electricity, fertilisers, cement and coal, the output of eight core industries increased 4.2 per cent in April, up from 2.5 per cent in the previous month.

The growth of the eight core sector in April 2013 was 3.7 per cent. Electricity production increased 11.2 per cent in April this year from 3.5 per cent in the same month last year.

Similarly, fertilisers, cement and coal registered higher growth during the month under review. Fertilisers, cement and coal recorded a growth 11.1 per cent, 6.7 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively in April 2014, according to the data released by commerce and industry ministry on Monday.

According to rating agency ICRA, “notwithstanding the pick up in core sector growth, IIP growth for April 2014 is expected to record less than one per cent growth”.

Showing no signs of recovery, index of industrial production (IIP) remained in negative territory for the second month in a row, contracting 0.5 per cent in March due to declining output in manufacturing, especially capital goods.

The coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity sectors had expanded 2.7 per cent in 2013-14.