New Delhi, July 28: Except for basic industries like steel, cement and fertilisers, most industries have recorded medium-to-high growth rates in the first quarter fo the year, according to the ASCON Industry Review of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The survey, released on Friday, has stated that majority of basic and intermediate goods as well as consumer non-durables have recorded less than 10 per cent growth in production during April-June 2000-01 as compared to the corresponding period of the last fiscal. Predicting a gloomy picture of Indian industry for the next six months of 2000-01 as far as basic industries are concerned, the survey observed that sectors like crude oil, cold rolled steel and pig iron have posted negative growth rates. Twelve of the 18 consumer non-durables industry, including tea, processed food, malted food, soaps and toiletries have grown at less than 10 per cent while intermediate goods like castings, polyester filament yarn and nylon tyre have posted low to negative growth during this period. The only exception to the trend was consumer durables with sub-sectors like motor cycles, audio products, personal computers and Air conditioners which have recorded excellent growth rates of over 20 per cent during this period. However, even within consumer durables, medium and heavycommercial vehicles, scooters and colour televisions have showed negative growth rates.µ Among intermediate goods, 13 of the 19 sub-sectors have recorded moderate to negative growth in production. A majority of consumer non durables like cigarettes andtobacco, tea, processed food, alcoholic beverage, newsprint and detergents have also showed single-digit growth. Sugar at 25 per cent production growth rate and vanaspati at 20 per cent growth rate bucked the trend followed by drugs and pharmaceuticals and personal healthcare at 16 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. The survey, which covered about 65 per cent of total industry output, said services sector covering construction, thermal, hydro and nuclear electric generation were also below the 10 per cent mark. However, software cellular services and housing Finance were the high growth sectors at 50 per cent, 84 per cent and 25 per cent production rates.µ Sales growth in consumer non durables was also low with most of the categories not able to cross the ten per cent mark, the cii survey said adding export growth was slow with only paper and drugs and pharmaceuticals crossing the 15 per cent mark. Consumer durables which which were not able to make muchof a dent in the domestic market however, turned in a good performance in the overseas market with light commercial vehicles and mopeds recording a phenomenal 253 per cent and 137 per cent growth respectively in the first quarter of the current fiscal. The vehicle industry, cars, scooters, motorcycles andglass products also posted above 20 per cent growth rate in exports during April-June 2000-01 as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. However, consumer electronics, colour televisions, threewheelers and multi utility vehicles were not able to make inroads into the export market, the survey added.
