Macedonia's industrial production up by 4.4 pct in first ten months

Industrial production in Macedonia saw an increase of 4.4 percent in the January to October 2016 period when compared to the same period last year, Macedonia's statistical office said Tuesday.

But in annual terms, data showed that industrial production fell by 3.6 percent in October 2016 compared to October 2015.

Industrial production in the mining and quarrying sector decreased by 0.8 percent in October 2016 compared to October last year, while in the manufacturing sector it decreased by 4.5 percent, statistics confirmed.

The decrease in the manufacturing sector was mostly due to decreased production in the manufacture of food, tobacco, apparel, chemicals and chemical products, rubber and plastic products, basic metals and fabricated metal products, with the exception of machinery and equipment, the state statistical office here said.

On the up side, production in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply increased by 10.5 percent.

The industrial production by main industrial groupings in October 2016, in comparison with October 2015, was 4.2 percent higher in the energy sector, 18.3 percent higher in capital goods sector, and 73.8 percent higher in durable consumer goods, but lower in intermediate goods, data further showed.

According to Macedonia's state statistical office, the industrial producer prices on the domestic market were lower by 0.1 percent at the monthly level and 0.2 percent lower in annual terms. Endit