Infra sector growth at a 6-month high in October

Infrastructure sector recorded a growth rate of 6.6% in October -- the highest in last six months -- on the back of impressive performance by steel and refinery products. However, growth rate of power generation, fertiliser production and cement output fell considerably on year-on-year basis. Coal production continued to fall for the third straight month.

The growth rate of eight infrastructure sectors -- coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- was 3.8% in October 2015. It was 5% in September 2016. The core sectors, which contribute 38% to the total industrial production, expanded by 4.9% in April-October compared to 2.8% growth in the similar period of last financial year.

As per the official data released on Wednesday, steel production jumped 16.9% in October against contraction of 5.5% in the year-ago period. The output of refinery products soared by 15.1% in October. The sector had declined by 4.4% in October last year.

Growth in fertiliser and electricity generation was at 0.8% and 2.8%, respectively, in October 2016, against 16.8 percent and 13.8%, respectively in October 2015. Coal production declined by 1.6% in October as against a growth of 6.6% in the year-ago period. Natural gas and crude oil output during October fell by 1.4% and 3.2%, respectively.