Industrial production, measured on the basis of Index of Industrial Production (IIP), grew slightly by 0.2 per cent in September 2020 with higher output of mining and power generation sectors. The IIP had contracted by 4.6 per cent in September 2019, while 7.36 per cent contraction posted in August 2020. The data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that for the month of September 2020, the Quick Estimates of Index of Industrial Production (IIP) with base 2011-12 stood at 123.2.
As per the IIP data, manufacturing sector production registered a decline of 0.6 per cent. The output of mining and power segments grew at 1.4 per cent and 4.9 per cent, respectively. The Indices of Industrial Production for the Mining, Manufacturing and Electricity sectors for the month of September 2020 stood at 87.6, 125.3 and 166.4 respectively.
As per Use-based classification, the indices stood at 112.1 for Primary Goods, 88.4 for Capital Goods, 132.2 for Intermediate Goods and 128.5 for Infrastructure/ Construction Goods for the month of September 2020. Further, the indices for Consumer durables and Consumer non-durables stood at 125.9 and 149.9 respectively for the month of September 2020.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation said with the gradual relaxation of restrictions, there has been a relative improvement in the economic activities by varying degrees as well as in data reporting. it added that it may not be appropriate to compare the IIP in the post-pandemic months with the IIP for months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.