Industrial exports were up 13.4% on the year in April, following a rise of only 1.4% in the previous month. Exports rose by 5.1% in the first four months of the year. The KSH noted that two-thirds of industrial exports came from two segments in the first quarter.
Exports of electrical and optical equipment, the largest segment within the manufacturing sector, were up 7.5%, while the manufacturing of transport equipment, the second largest sector, saw export sales rising 6.4% in the period.
Overall domestic demand was up 4.2% in April, following a 3.6% rise in the previous month. Domestic sales increased at a rate of 3.2% in January-April.
The gross output of manufacturing, the largest industrial sector, was up 9.7% in April after growth of only 1.0% during the previous month. Of the other two sub-sectors of industry, output in mining and quarrying increased by 4.5% in April after a decline of 8.4% in March, while the electricity, gas, steam and water utility sector saw output rise 1.8% in the period.
