China's industrial output rose 12.9 percent year on year in 2008, 5.6 percentage points lower than the previous year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Thursday.

Industrial output increased 5.7 percent in December, compared with the 5.4 percent growth in November.

Among industrial enterprises each with an annual sales income of at least 5 million yuan (US$731,283), industrial output of the state-owned enterprises and share-holding companies went up 9.1 percent and 15 percent respectively.

That of the companies funded by foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan was up 9.9 percent.

By sector, industrial output rose 13.2 percent for the heavy industry and 12.3 percent for the light industry.

NBS statistics showed total profits of the country's industrial enterprises reached 2.4 trillion yuan in the first 11 months last year, up 4.9 percent compared with the same period in 2007.

Of the total 39 industries, 31 of them reported year-on-year profit growth. Five industries took the lead, including petroleum and natural gas exploitation, mining and washing of coal, manufacturing of transportation equipment, manufacturing of raw chemical materials and chemical products as well as smelting and pressing of ferrous metals.

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2009)