New Delhi: India's manufacturing sector witnessed a decline between April 2007 and March 2008, says a survey conducted by a leading industry chamber.

While 21.73 percent of all units in the manufacturing sector recorded over 20 percent growth in 2006-07, the figure declined to 15.38 percent in 2007-08, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Association of Council (ASCON) Survey.

The study says 30.77 percent units in the sector recorded 10 to 20 percent growth in 2007-08 against 36.73 percent in the previous year.

The manufacturing units that recorded over 20 percent growth were in the following categories - sponge iron, power cables, electric motors, power transformers, personal computer, groundnut oil, and transmission line towers.

The manufacturing units that witnessed a moderate growth of up to 10 percent increased to 37.5 percent during 2007-08 against 30.61 percent, while 16.35 percent recorded less than zero percent growth against 11.22 percent in the previous fiscal.

The categories recording negative growth included fertilisers, machine tools, tractors, the vehicle industry, including three-wheelers and motorcycles.