The industrial production index rose by 17 percent year-on-year in October, pushing the ten-month increase by 8.7 percent, higher than a 7.3 percent rise from the same period last year and 7.9 percent growth recorded in nine months. 

According to the General Department of Statistics, manufacturing and processing sector grew by 13.6 percent while electricity production and distribution expanded 9.3 percent, water supply and wastewater treatment went up 7.5 percent. Only mining sector was down 7.4 percent. 

In January – October, manufacturing of several industrial products grew higher than the same period last year, including television (30 percent), iron and crude steel (28 percent), rolled steel (19 percent) and urea fertiliser (15 percent). 

Localities recording high index include Bac Ninh (up 32 percent), Hai Phong (20 percent), Thai Nguyen (17 percent), Hai Duong (10 percent), Binh Duong (9.7 percent), Da Nang (9 percent), Dong Nai (8.5 percent), Ho Chi Minh City (7.8 percent), Can Tho (7 percent), Hanoi (6.9 percent), and Vinh Phuc (6.9 percent). 

As of October 1, inventory index in manufacturing and processing sector hiked 8.8 percent year-on-year, higher than apparel (6.3 percent), food production and processing (4.7 percent), and transport vehicles (2.3 percent). Meanwhile, cigarettes and pharmaceuticals saw respective decreases of 3.2 percent and 17.9 percent in this index. 

Sectors recording inventory index higher than the average include beverages (up 48.5 percent), motorised vehicles (45.2 percent), electronic and optical products and computers (20.9 percent), and electrical equipment (14.9 percent). 

The number of workers in industrial firms increased by 5.1 percent as of October 1, of whom, those in State enterprises dropped 0.5 percent while those in non-State and foreign-invested businesses went up 3 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively. 

Workers in localities with large-scale industry also saw growth, such as Bac Ninh (up 19.3 percent), Da Nang (17.3 percent), Hai Duong (9 percent), Vinh Phuc (7.9 percent), Hai Phong (5.3 percent), Thai Nguyen (5.3 percent), Hanoi (3.8 percent), Can Tho (2.2 percent) and Ho Chi Minh City (0.9 percent).-VNA