VINACHEM

The industrial growth rate has remained above 13 per cent since February but was still 1-3 per cent lower than before the global economic crisis, the GSO said.

Industrial sectors posting the highest growth during the period were automobile and motorbike manufacturing, each up around 30 per cent; air conditioning, up 27 per cent; and cement, up 19 per cent.

Foreign-invested enterprises saw the stronger growth in industrial production, up 17.5 per cent, while the rate among non State-owned domestic firms was 12.6 per cent.

The State-owned sector, on the other hand, saw a 4-per-cent decrease in six-month industrial output.

Crude oil production fell by 16 per cent during the period to 7.25 million tonnes, while coal production dropped 5.4 per cent to a total of 22 million tonnes. Other industries in which State-owned enterprises were dominant, such as steel, fertiliser and sugar, all saw low growth rates of 3-8 per cent.

(Source: VNS)