In January-August, industrial output increased by 6.9 percent against the same period of 2003.
In August, the production and distribution of electricity, gas and water fell 8.4 percent against the 2003 monthly average, while the processing industry dropped 1.5 percent. Ore and stone extraction grew 5.2 percent.
The production of durable consumer goods fell 17 percent, non-durable consumer goods 12.1 percent, capital goods 9.7 percent, and energy 3.2 percent. The production of intermediary goods, not including energy, jumped 15.8 percent.
A total of 16 sectors, accounting for 63 percent of overall industrial output, reported a drop in August, while 13 sectors, which make up 37 percent of the country’s industrial production, saw an increase.
Total industrial output in August, including SME production figures, fell 1.8 percent against the 2003 monthly average, while the processing industry edged down 0.8 percent.