Industrial production in the country based on the index of industrial production (IIP) expanded 1.7 per cent in January 2019 against a 2.4 per cent growth recorded in December 2018, quick estimates released by the Central Statistics office (CSO) showed.
The index of industrial production (with base 2011-12) has recorded a cumulative growth of 4.4 per cent for the period April-January 2018-19, year-on-year.
Production in the mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors expanded by 3.9 per cent, 1.3 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively, compared to the levels in January 2018. These sectors recorded cumulative growth rates of 3.2 per cent, 4.4 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively, during April-January 2018-19.
Eleven out of the 23 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during January 2019 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. The industry group ‘food products’ has shown the highest growth of 17.0 per cent, followed by ‘wearing apparel’ 16.4 per cent and in ‘printing and reproduction of recorded media’ 10.4 per cent.
On the other hand, the industry group ‘manufacture of furniture’ has shown the highest negative growth of (-) 12.0 per cent, followed by ‘fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment’ (-) 9.0 per cent and ‘paper and paper products’ (-) 6.4 per cent.
Production of primary goods production increased by 1.4 per cent in February 2019, while production of capital goods and intermediate goods registered negative growth rates of (-) 3.2 per cent and (-) 3.0 per cent, respectively. Production of infrastructure/construction goods rose 7.9 per cent.
Production of consumer durables and consumer non-durables recorded growth rates of 1.8 per cent and 3.8 per cent, respectively.