IIP logs healthy 9.5 p c growth in November '06

New Delhi, Jan 2 (UNI) The six core-infrastructure industries registered a robust growth of 9.5 per cent in November 2006 on the back of solid performance of crude petroleum, petroleum refining and electricity generation sectors compared to 5.7 per cent logged in November 2005.

During April-November 2006-07, the core-infrastructure industries registered a growth of 7.8 per cent (provisional) against 5.2 per cent during the corresponding period of last year, figures released by the Central Statistical Organisation show.

Electricity generation, which holds a weight of 10.17 per cent in the Index, registered a growth of 8.8 per cent in November 2006 up from 3.4 per cent in November 2005. The sector grew by 7.3 per cent during April-November 2006-07 compared to an increase of 4.9 per cent during the same period of 2005-06.

Crude petroleum production recorded a 10.1 per cent jump in November 2006 compared to a negative growth rate of 8.5 per cent in November 2005.

Petroleum refinery production also saw buoyant growth of 16.4 per cent in November 2006 against 1.5 per cent logged in November 2005.

During the April-November period, crude petroleum showed a growth of 5.5 per cent compared to -5.7 per cent during the same period of 2005-06. Along with crude petroleum, the petroleum refinery production saw a 13.5 per cent growth during this period against the negative 0.6 per cent chalked up in the year-ago period.

However, the coal sector grew at 4.9 per cent in November against a higher growth rate of 6.9 per cent in November 2005.

Coal production grew by 4.8 per cent during April-November 2006-07 over the increase of 6.1 per cent during the same period of 2005-06.

Similarly, finished (carbon) steel production grew at a slower pace in November 2006 at 9.0 per cent compared to 14.8 per cent in the same period last year. During April-November 2006-07, the sector grew by 7.6 per cent compared to an increase of 10.0 per cent in the year-ago period.

Cement production also showed considerable growth of 11.5 per cent in November 2006 from 7.8 per cent in the year-ago period. Overall, cement production grew by 10.2 per cent during the first eight months of the year, an improvement over 10.6 per cent logged during the same period of 2005-06.

UNI