Egypt’s manufacturing, extractive industries output rises 5.1% in June – CAPMAS

Egypt’s manufacturing and extractive industries production index rose 5.1 per cent in June from May, preliminary data from the country’s statistics agency showed on Thursday, driven by stronger beverage production and printing activity.

The index, excluding crude oil and petroleum products, rose to 136.44 in June from a final reading of 129.81 in May, the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) said.

The increase was led by a 22.47 per cent jump in beverage production, with the industry’s index rising to 650.69 from 531.29 in May, according to CAPMAS. The agency attributed the increase to stronger market demand.

Printing and reproduction of recorded media also increased, with its index rising 16.17 per cent to 160.98 from 138.58 in May, driven by contracts with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, CAPMAS said.

The increase in overall manufacturing and extractive industries output was partly offset by declines in food and chemical production.

The food products index fell 0.40 per cent to 139.23 in June from 139.79 in May, which CAPMAS attributed to the end of some agricultural seasons.

The chemicals and chemical products index recorded a sharper decline, falling 23.48 per cent to 110.15 from 143.96, reflecting changes in supply and demand, the agency said.

CAPMAS said the industrial production index uses 2012/13 as its base year and classifies activities according to the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC Rev. 4).

The agency has used the updated methodology and a monthly producer price index based on 2012/13 since January 2020.