It is reported that, increased production by steel and cement companies pulled up the index for the 6 infrastructure industries to 9.6% in March 2008 against 10.5% growth in March 2007.

This, however, is the highest monthly growth rate in the core sector industries registered during fiscal 2007-08 indicating that despite a 6 year low industrial production growth rate of 3% during the month, investment activities have accelerated evident from higher consumption of core sector products.

Finished steel production grew by 21.8% during March 2008. In terms of quantity, finished steel production stood at 6.10 million tonnes during March 2008 as against 5 million tonnes in March 2007. But growth in finished steel production fell sharply to 5.1% in 2007-08 as against 13.1% in 2006-07.

Cement output rose by 9.3%. Cement output was 16.89 million tonnes as against 15.45 million tonnes in March 2007.

Production of crude oil actually went down in March 2008 to 0.3% as against a growth of 3.2% in March 2007. Output of petroleum refinery products remained stagnant at last year’s level, while electricity generation went up by only 3.6% during March 2008 as against 8% in March 2007.

Coal production improved by 9.3% during March 2008 as against 10.6% in March 2007. For full 2007-08, the 6 core sectors recorded a sharp fall to 5.6% as compared with 9.2% in 2006-07. Cement output grew by 8.1% as against 9.1%.

Growth in petroleum refinery output also went down substantially to 6.5% during 2007-08 as against 12.9% in 2006-07.

Electricity generation and coal production increased by 6.3% and 6%, respectively in 2007-08 as against 7.3% and 5.9% during 2006-07.