Core sector growth recovers to 1.3% in December

01 Feb 2020 Evaluate

Growth of eight core industries recovered to 1.3 percent in December 2019 after remaining in the negative zone in the previous four months helped by expansion in production of coal, fertiliser and refinery products. However, the growth was lower than 2.1 percent recorded in December 2018. According to data released by the ministry of Commerce and Industry, the combined Index of eight core industries stood at 133.2 in December, 2019, which was 1.3 percent higher compared to the index of December, 2018. The Eight Core Industries - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity - comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).   

Among eight core sectors, Coal production having 10.33 percent weight increased by 6.1 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018, while its cumulative index decreased by 3.8 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over corresponding period of the previous year. Petroleum Refinery production having 28.04 percent weight increased 3.0 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018, while its cumulative index dropped by 0.6 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.   

The Natural Gas production having 6.88 percent weight declined by 9.2 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018, and its cumulative index was down by 3.8 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year. Steel production having 17.92 percent weight increased by 1.9 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018 and its cumulative index surged by 5.2 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year. Electricity generation having 19.85 percent weight fell 1.6 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018 while its cumulative index increased by 0.5 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.  

Cement production having 5.37 percent weight increased by 5.5 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018 and its cumulative index rose by 0.7 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year. Crude Oil production having 8.98 percent weight increased by 6.1 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018 and its cumulative index fell by 3.8 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year. Fertilizer production having 2.63 percent weight surged by 10.2 percent in December, 2019 over December, 2018, and, its cumulative index increased by 4.7 percent during April to December, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.   

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×