Coronavirus impact: Output in eight core industries declines 38% in April

Coronavirus impact: Output in eight core industries declines 38% in April

All eight core sectors reported massive decline in production during April, with coronavirus-mandated lockdowns in place. Cement and steel reported the biggest losses in output at 86 per cent and 83.9 per cent, respectively

Growth in eight core industries of India during the month of April declined by 38.1 per cent, according to data released by the government on Friday. In the previous month this year, the eight core industries - coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery producs, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity - saw output decline by 9 per cent. All sectors reported massive decline in production during April, with coronavirus-mandated lockdowns in place. Cement and steel reported the biggest losses in output during the month under review at 86 per cent and 83.9 per cent, respectively.

"The growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for April 2020 declined by 38.1 per cent (provisional) compared to decline of 9 per cent (provisional) previous month of March 2020. In view of nationwide lockdownduring April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, various industries viz. Coal, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Refinery, Crude Oil etcexperienced substantial loss of production," Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Friday.

Coal - Coal production (weight: 10.33per cent) declinedby 15.5 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index declined by 0.4 per cent during April toMarch, 2019-20over corresponding period of the previous year.

Crude Oil -Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98per cent) declined by 6.4 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index declined by 5.9 per cent during April toMarch, 2019-20over the corresponding period of previous year.

Natural Gas - The Natural Gas production (weight:6.88per cent) declinedby19.9 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index declined by 5.6 per cent during April to March, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Refinery Products - Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04per cent) declined by 24.2 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index increased by 0.2per cent during April to March, 2019-20over the corresponding period of previous year.

Fertilisers -Fertilisers production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 4.5 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index increasedby 2.7 per cent during April toMarch, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Steel -Steel production (weight: 17.92per cent)declinedby 83.9 per cent in April, 2020 over April,2019. Its cumulative index increased by 3.4 per centduring April to March, 2019-20 over the corresponding period of previous year.

Cement -Cement production (weight:5.37per cent) declinedby 86.0 per cent in April, 2020over April,2019. Its cumulative index declinedby0.9 per centduring April to March, 2019-20over the corresponding period of previous year.

Electricity - Electricity generation (weight:19.85per cent) declinedby 22.8 per centin April, 2020over April,2019. Its cumulative indexincreased by1.0per cent duringApril to March, 2019-20over the corresponding period of previous year.