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IIP growth slows down in March
Broad-based deceleration in manufacturing sector pulls down growth
11 May 2018
The Economy Observer
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth slowed down to 4.4% in March 2018 from 7%+ in the previous three
months, as the favourable base effect dissipated in the month. The number was below our estimate/market consensus
of a 5.6%/6.2% rise.
Lower IIP growth can be primarily attributed to the manufacturing sector, where growth slowed down to 4.4% in March
2018 from an average of 9.1% in the previous three months. The deceleration was broad-based, with ~51% of the sector
(v/s 28% in February 2018) reporting growth of less than 5%. 12 of the 23 industries within manufacturing witnessed a
contraction in output.
As per use-based classification, output of capital goods declined by 1.8% YoY in March after growing in double-digits
over the previous three months. Growth in the output of consumer durables was also weak at 2.9%.
IIP growth decelerated to 4.4% in FY18 from 4.6% in the previous year. We expect growth to come in at ~5.5% in
1HFY19, slightly lower than +6% in 2HFY18. For full-year FY19, we expect growth to improve slightly to 4.6%.
IIP growth slows down to 4.4% in March 2018…:
The Index of Industrial
Production (IIP) rose by just 4.4% in March 2018
(Exhibit 1).
The number is
below our estimate/market consensus of a 5.6%/6.2% rise. Growth slowed
down from 7%+ in the previous three months, as the favourable base effect that
was seen over December 2017-February 2018 dissipated in March.
Broad-based decline in manufacturing pulls down IIP:
Growth in the
manufacturing output dropped to 4.4% from an average of 9.1% in the previous
four months. The deceleration was broad-based, with ~51% of the sector (by
weight) reporting growth of less than 5% in March 2018, up from ~28% in the
preceding month
(Exhibit 3).
As many as 12 of the 23 industries within
manufacturing witnessed a YoY contraction in output in the month. Among the
manufacturing industries, the output of tobacco products, wearing apparels and
electrical equipment fell by over 5% YoY in March 2018. Mining and power
generation rose by 2.8% and 5.9%, respectively, in the month.
Capital goods and consumer durables drag growth:
As per use-based
classification, capital goods production declined by 1.8% YoY in March 2018,
after growing in double-digits over the previous three months. Growth in the
previous three months was largely led by a weak base (December 2016-
February 2017: -3.1%). However, this effect dissipated thereafter (March 2017:
+9.4%), leading to a sharp fall in capital goods production in March 2018.
Growth in the output of consumer durables slowed down to 2.9% in March 2018
from 7.5%+ in the previous two months. Growth in the output of
infra/construction goods and consumer non-durables remained healthy at 8.8%
and 10.9%, respectively, in March 2018.
IIP growth to improve slightly in FY19:
IIP growth decelerated to 4.4% in FY18
from 4.6% in FY17 due to slower growth in mining and electricity generation.
We expect growth to come in at ~5.5% in 1HFY19, slightly lower than +6% in
2HFY18. For full-year FY19, we expect growth to improve slightly to 4.6%.
Nikhil Gupta – Research Analyst
(Nikhil.Gupta@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 6129 1555
Rahul Agrawal
– Research Analyst
(Rahul.Agrawal@motilaloswal.com); +91 22 3982 5445
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
Motilal Oswal research is available on www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Capital.