Q1 2018: Computer and Electronic Goods Industry Production Sees Sharpest Decline

Amidst the growth of large and medium-scale manufacturing industry production, several industry types recorded declines. Based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the production of computers, electronics, and optical goods during the first quarter of 2018 decreased by 13.36% compared to the first quarter of the previous year (YoY). This figure is the steepest decline among other industries.

Other large and medium-scale manufacturing industries that experienced production declines in the first three months of this year include the paper and paper product industry (down 11.24%), followed by the chemical and chemical product industry (down 8.5%) compared to the first three months of the previous year.

Overall, the production of large and medium-scale manufacturing industries in the first quarter of this year grew by 5.01% compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This growth was supported by an increase in the production of leather, leather goods, and footwear by 18.87%. Similarly, compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, growth was 0.88%, driven by an increase in the production of the printing and recording reproduction industry by 13.54%.