In December 2017, the industrial production index went up by 2% in comparison with the same month of 2016, driven by the manufacturing industry, the National Statistical Institute (NSI) said.
In manufacturing, the index rose 5.2% amid more considerable growth in the manufacturing of basic metals (by 26%), chemicals and chemical products (by 24.2%), pharmaceuticals (by 19.4%), and computer, electronic and optical products (by 16.3%).
In the mining and quarrying industry and in power, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, production fell 5.2% and 5.1%, respectively.
On the other hand, turnover in the retail trade sector, except motor vehicles and motorcycles, registered a year-on-year increase by 4.9%, while the construction sector saw a 4.1% decrease in production.
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