IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Manufacturing production increased by 3,0% in August 2012 compared with August 2011.

The 3,0% year-on-year increase in manufacturing production in August 2012 was mainly due to higher production in the following divisions:

• petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (4,7% and contributing 1,1 percentage points);
• wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (9,9% and contributing 0,9 of a percentage point); and
• basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (4,2% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point) (see Table 4b).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production in the three months ended August 2012 increased by 0,9% compared with the previous three months. Seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported positive growth rates over this period.

The largest contributions to the increase of 0,9% were made by the following divisions:

• motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (3,2% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point);
• food and beverages (2,2% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and
• wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (2,7% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point) (see Table B).

These increases were partially counteracted by lower production recorded for the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (-1,4% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).