Infra growth up 9% in July

Infrastructure sector grew 9% in July this fiscal when compared with 2.3% in the same month last year on account of strong performance in all six core industries.

The cumulative infrastructure output during April-July this fiscal increased to 7% as against 6.1% in the same period of 2005-06, mainly due to double-digit growth in petroleum refining and cement production.

According to the government data released today, five of the six sectors - except steel - recorded improved performance during July this year compared to the year-ago period.

Crude oil output grew 4.1% as compared to a decline of 3.9%, while refining throughput rose 12.6% as against 3.6% in July 2005.

Coal production increased 10.6% as against -1.6%, while electricity generation grew 8.6% from -1% in July last year.

Cement production rose 13.3% compared to 3.6%, while steel production slowed to 8% in July from 10.4% a year ago.

In April-July 2006-07, crude oil production grew 1.2% as against a decline of 1.6% in the same period last year. Refining throughput increased 12.1% compared to a negative growth of 2.8%.

Coal production grew 8.3% from 5.3% in April-July 2005-06, while power generation increased 6.1% so far this fiscal as against 5.3% last year.

Cement output rose 10.5% during April-July this fiscal from 11.3% and steel production slowed to 7.1% from 12.7% a year ago.