1. Performance of Industrial Production Index
The Industrial Production Index (IPI) in August 2008
edged up 0.9% as compared with the same month last
year after a revised 2.4% in July 2008. The positive
growth in August 2008 was supported by the three indices:
Mining (1.6%), Electricity (0.7%) and Manufacturing
(0.8%).
Month-on-month, the IPI dipped 1.4% in August 2008.
For the first eight months of the year, the cumulative
index rose 3.9% as against the same period in 2007.
2. Performance of Manufacturing Sector
The Manufacturing output in August 2008 posted a
year-on-year 0.8% increase. As compared with the previous
month, output was down by 0.6%. In the period January
– August 2008, Manufacturing output rose 4.5%
as compared to January – August 2007.
The growth of the Manufacturing output was supported
by the increases in the Motor vehicles (39.8%); Television,
radio, sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus
(31.9%) and General purpose machinery (25.6%).
3. Performance of Mining Index
The output for the Mining sector in August 2008 was
up by 1.6% as compared with the corresponding month
in 2007. The increase was mainly due to the production
of crude oil (5.9%). Year-on-year, natural gas output
declined by 6.1% as compared to the similar month
in 2007. For the first eight months of 2008, the cumulative
output growth of the Mining sector was 1.9% as against
the same period of 2007.
4. Performance of Electricity Index
Production of electricity in August 2008 increased
marginally by 0.7% as compared with a year earlier.
Month-on-month, production was down by 1.6%. In the
period January – August 2008, production rose
3.2% as compared with same period 2007.
