ISLAMABAD: Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a paltry growth of 1.86 per cent during the first quarter (July-September) of this fiscal year from a year ago, reflecting a slump in the industrial sector.

The rate of growth in the industrial output witnessed a downward trend in the month of September mainly driven by lower energy supply to the industries, suggested data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics issued on Monday.

In July 2014 the LSM grew by 1.14pc which rebounded to 5.27pc in August and 1.82pc expansion was recorded in September.

Major contribution towards positive growth in LSM performance in July-Sept 2014 was from textile 1.03pc; food and beverages 2.71pc; paper and board 2.96pc, petroleum products 0.94pc, electronics 7.15pc, iron and steel products 13.95pc; chemicals 6.20pc; non-metallic mineral products 0.67pc; rubber products 6.06pc; engineering products 0.66pc; pharmaceuticals 2.57pc; and automobiles 13.97pc.

Last year, the LSM sector, which accounts for 70pc of industrial production, recorded a positive growth of 3.95pc.

Some sectors, like fertiliser witnessed a negative growth of 4.07pc; wood products 81.19pc; and leather products 2.14pc during the quarter under review.

Industry specific data showed that some sub-sectors didn’t perform well in July-Sept 2014-15 over the corresponding quarter of last year.

In electronic and electrical goods, production of refrigerators recorded a positive growth of 9.46pc; air-conditioners was increased by 4.23pc; electric meters 45.86pc; electric transformers 117.51pc; TV sets 8.44pc and bicycles 17.11pc.

However, the production of deep-freezers declined by 9.47pc; electric bulbs 27.20pc; electric fans 1.60pc; electric motors 3.50pc; switch gears 2.83pc during the quarter under review over the same period last year.

The growth was witnessed in case of food, beverages and tobacco. The sector has adjusted weightage of 12.37pc in the LSM basket. A positive growth of 2.33pc was witnessed in vegetable ghee production and 21.13pc in tea during July-Sept 2014. The cooking oil production was down by 3.22pc.

In automobile sector, the production of trucks was up by 125.66pc; tractors 85.24pc; jeep and cars 11.48; LCV’s 3.16pc and motor cycles 2.50pc during July-Sept 2014 from the corresponding period of last year. However, production of buses was down by 17.14pc during the period.

Published in Dawn, November 25th , 2014