Industrial production index expands by nearly 7 percent

Production of canned soft drinks at a factory of Suntory Pepsico Vietnam in southern Can Tho city. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The national index of industrial production (IIP) in the first two months of this year posted a year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The IIP in February had grown by nearly 8 percent against the previous year.

Growth was reported in production of automobiles (38.8 percent) and steel (28.3 percent), while that of paint, leather footwear, motorbikes, sugar, and mobile phones reduced by between 0.1 percent and 3.5 percent.

Localities where industrial production surged included Quang Nam (65.6 percent), Thai Nguyen (29.9 percent), Hai Phong (14.7 percent), Can Tho (13.4 percent), Da Nang (9.6 percent), Hai Duong (9.2 percent), Hanoi (8.5 percent), Dong Nai (8.4 percent), Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong (5.7 percent).

The inventory level of electronics, computers and optical production posted a modest growth of 1.1 percent while that of beverages, metal and motor vehicles increased sharply by 56.1 percent, 34.8 percent, and 32.2 percent, respectively.

Total workforce in the industrial sector expanded by 6.2 percent year-on-year./.