ISLAMABAD, April 16: Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a growth of 2.93 per cent in the first eight months (July-February of 2012-13 from a year ago.
The growth in LSM was mainly driven by increase in production of food products, iron and steel products, petroleum products, paper and board, non-metallic mineral products, chemicals, textiles pharmaceuticals and rubber products, according to data compiled by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released here on Tuesday.
Last year, the LSM sector, which accounts for 70pc of industrial production, recorded a negative growth because of energy crisis, ever-rising input cost and lack of demand in domestic and international market.
On a monthly basis, LSM output increased by 3.84pc in February 2013 from a year ago.
Improved supply of gas, especially to textile industries in the past few months, resulted in an increase in the output.
The major contribution towards positive growth in LSM performance in the first eight months this year from a year ago came from food, beverages and tobacco 5.44pc, iron and steel products 13.02pc, petroleum products 11.23pc, paper and board 27.42pc, chemicals 0.94pc, rubber products 21.13pc, pharmaceuticals 6.78pc, non-metallic mineral products 5.06pc and textile 0.76pc.
Still some sectors, like fertilisers, witnessed a negative growth of 5.36pc, electronics 9.37pc, leather products 4.71pc, wood products 20.36pc, engineering products 15.49pc and automobiles 11.97pc during the months under review over last year.
Relying on growth in the past few months, the government expected that the economy would grow by about 4pc as against 3.7pc growth last year.
Industry specific data showed that many sub-sectors didn’t perform well in July-February period, mostly electronic goods, which led to jump in import of consumer and electronic items.
In the electronic and electrical goods, production of deep-freezers was down by 15.85pc, air-conditioners 15.35pc, electric bulbs 9.35pc, electric tubes 23.08pc, electric fans 4.91pc, electric motors 17.28pc, electric meters 2.90pc, TV sets 65.92pc, storage batteries 6.64pc, generating sets 6.33pc and bicycles 1.22pc.
However, refrigerators recorded a growth of 9.11pc, switch gears 9.59pc, and electric transformers 17.40pc, during the first eight months of 2012-13 over last fiscal year.
The growth was witnessed in case of food, beverages and tobacco. The sector has adjusted weightage of 12.37pc in LSM basket.
Vegetable ghee production increased by 3.50pc, oil by 14.75pc, tea blended 20.13pc.
Another important sector, which provides jobs in large numbers across the country, is the automobile sector. Trucks production fell by 28.24pc, jeeps and cars 23.67pc, LCVs 27.98pc, buses 9.09pc and motorcycle 2.45 pc. However, production of tractors was up 60.94pc during the first eight months of the current fiscal year over last year.