Core sector output rises 7.1% in Jan

The output of the country’s six core infrastructure industries grew 7.1 per cent in January, on the back of healthy production of crude oil, petroleum refinery products and electricity.

The six core sectors — crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel — had expanded by 9.8 per cent in the same month last year.

In December 2010, the output of these infrastructure industries rose by 6.1 per cent. The six core industries account for 26.68 per cent of the country’s total industrial output. Petroleum refinery and crude oil output grew by 8.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent respectively in January, up from 3.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent in the same period last year, a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed.

Electricity generation grew by a healthy 9.3 per cent, compared to 6.4 per cent growth in the corresponding month last year, the data said. However, coal output dropped by 1.2 per cent as against 5.4 per cent expansion during the same month last year.