Core industries grow at 7.3% in Apr-Sep

Six core industries viz. crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and steel, cumulatively registered a growth of 7.3% in April-September this year as against 6.1% in the corresponding period last year, according to government data released today.

In September, crude oil production surged to 9.3% from a negative growth of 7.3% in the same month of 2005. Power generation grew 11.5% during the month as compared to negative 0.7% in September 2005.

Refining throughput also increased 13.5% during September 2005 as against 4.9% last year, while cement production shot up by 15.9% from 4.9%  in the corresponding month of FY06.

However, coal production declined to 0.6% as against a growth of 4.3%, while steel output rose by a much slower rate of 8.4% as against 23.3% in September last year.

The infrastructure sector grew at 9.9% from 6.3% in September last year.