The manufacturing sector is witnessing steady growth in production, sales and exports, according to a survey conducted by the Associations Council of the Confederation of Indian Industry for the first nine months of the current fiscal.
Of the 139 sectors reporting production in April-December 2005, 24 reported excellent production, with an increase of over 20 per cent in the first three quarters of the current fiscal over the corresponding period last year, 47 reported high production with an increase of 10-20 per cent, 54 sectors reported moderate production with an increase of 0-10 per cent, while 14 sectors reported a fall in production.
Lead and lead alloy, pig iron, switchgear, aluminium extrusions, ball and roller bearings, castings and industrial valves were among sectors registering excellent growth.
Asbestos cement, paints, sponge iron, circuit breakers and auto components were among sectors that witnessed high growth in production. Crude oil, natural gas, plastics and telecom cables reported low or negative growth over last year.
Of the 78 sectors reporting sales, 20 registered excellent growth, 27 high growth, and 25 sectors reported moderate growth, while 6 sectors recorded low or negative growth.
Pig iron, castings, industrial valves, diesel engines and sugar machinery were among the excellent growth sectors, while paints, sponge iron, auto components, room air-conditioners and motorcycles reported high growth compared with April-December last year.
Electrical cable & wires, cars, utility vehicles and rubber goods figured among low/ negative growth sectors.
On the export front, of the total 50 sectors reporting, 14 reported excellent growth, 14 high growth, 13 moderate growth and 9 negative growth. Ball and roller bearings, castings, air & gas compressors and textile machinery sectors reported excellent growth in April-December 2005, against the corresponding period in 2004.
Among the high growth sectors were abrasives, auto components, precision tubes and glass products. Cars, colour TV, utility vehicles and export cargo were among the low or negative growth sectors.
The survey compared the growth in production, sales and exports across various sectors during April-December 2005 over April-December 2004 and covered member companies of CII and its 109 affiliated associations.
