CORE SECTORS - ECONOMY

News: Core sector output rises 5.4% in uneven recovery

 

What's in the news?

       The output growth of India’s eight core sectors rebounded to 5.4% in November from a revised estimate of a 0.9% uptick in October, the slowest in 20 months.

       This was despite the fact that overall production levels in November 2022 remained the same as the previous month.

 

Key takeaways:

       The recovery in the year-on-year growth rate bodes well for the country’s industrial output numbers in November after a shocking 4% drop in October, as core sectors constitute about 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

       The IIP for November will be released on January 12 and economists expect the index to return to growth mode, albeit in the low single digits. 

       Cement output recovered sharply from a 4.3% contraction in October to jump 28.6% in November, while coal and electricity production levels accelerated to rise 12.3% and 12.1%, respectively.

       Steel output grew at the fastest pace in six months at 10.8%, but production levels were 2.35% lower than October 2022. Fertiliser production grew 6.4% from November 2021 levels.

 

What are Core Sectors?

       Core sectors are so-called as are considered to be the backbone of all other industries.

       These are the most important sectors of the economy and constitute 40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

       The Index of eight core industries (ICI) is prepared every month by the Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

 

Components of Core Sector:

Core industries include eight sectors of the Indian economy that are mentioned below.

  1. Coal – Coal production, excluding Coking coal.
  2. Electricity – Electricity generation of thermal, nuclear, hydro, imports from Bhutan.
  3. Crude Oil – Total crude oil production.
  4. Cement – Production in large plants and mini plants.
  5. Natural Gas – Total production of natural gas.
  6. Steel – Production of alloy and non-alloy steel only.
  7. Refinery Products – Total refinery production.
  8. Fertilizer – Urea, ammonium sulfate, calcium ammonium nitrate, complex grade fertilizer, and single superphosphate, among others.

 

Weightage in IIP:

The Eight Core Industries in decreasing order of their weightage are as follows.

 

       Refinery Products> Electricity> Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> Fertilizers.