TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: The overall output of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (LSMI) increased by 4.81 percent for July-September 2020-21 compared to July-September 2019-20, as most of the major manufacturing sectors posted growth, the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed Thursday.

According to provisional Quantum Index numbers of Large Scale Manufacturing Industries (QIM), the LSMI output increased by 7.65 percent for September 2020 compared to September 2019, and 10.09 percent, if compared to August 2020.

The LSMI Quantum Index Number (QIM) was recorded at 133.02 points during July-September 2020-21 against 126.92 points during the same period of the preceding year.

The LSM data released by the PBS after collecting it from the Provincial Bureau of Statistics (BOS), the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) and the Ministry of Industries showed that the OCAC recorded month-on-month growth of 4.76 percent in September 2020 against previous month, and negative 2.84 percent growth was recorded year-on-year in September 2020 against September 2019.

The data showed that the Ministry of Industry-related sectors witnessed an increase of 10.8 percent in September 2020 against August 2020 on MoM basis, while Year-on-Year basis, it registered a growth of 7.92 percent in September 2020 as compared with same month of 2019.

The PBS data said that LSM-related data to the BOS month-on-month witnessed an increase of 9.43 percent in September 2020 against the previous month, and on YoY basis, BOS witnessed growth of 9.34 percent in September 2020 against September 2019.

The production in July-September 2020-21 as compared to July-September 2019-20 has increased in textile, food, beverages and tobacco, coke and petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, non-metallic mineral products, fertilisers, rubber and products, and paper and board, while it decreased in automobiles, iron and steel products, wood products, electronics and leather products.

Textile, the top contributing sector to the overall big industry output, increased by 2.08 percent, food, beverages and tobacco 12.99 percent, coke and petroleum products 2.75 percent, pharmaceuticals 13.41 percent, chemicals 9.57 percent, non-metallic mineral products 22.17 percent, paper and board 10.35 percent, and rubber products 8.24 percent during July-September 2020-21 compared to the same period last year.

However, the PBS has not issued any sugar-related data.

The sectors showing decline during July-September 2020-21 compared to July-September 2019-20 included automobiles output fell 5.74 percent, iron and steel products 8.06 percent, electronics 20.75 percent, engineering products 37.15, leather products 44.70 percent, and wood products 69.72 percent.

Most of the 11 components, under the OCAC, showed growth in July-September 2020-21 compared to July-September 2019-20.

The petroleum products witnessed an increase of 2.75 percent as its output went up from 3.365 billion liters during July-September 2019-20 to 3.457 billion liters in July-September 2020-21, while on MoM basis petroleum sector witnessed decline of 2.84 percent as its output decreased from 1.186 billion litre in September 2019 to 1.153 billion litres in September 2020.

High-speed diesel witnessed 10.2 percent growth as its output remained 1.396 billion liters during July-September 2020-21 compared to 1.267 billion liters during the same period of last year, and 1.94 percent decline in September 2020-21 and remained 451 million liters compared to 460 million liters during the same period of last year.

Furnace oil witnessed one percent decline in output and remained 228.15 million liters in September 2020 compared to 230.45 million liters in September 2019 and 0.73 percent decline in July-September 2020-21 and remained 669.91 million liters compared to 674.8 million liters during the same period of last year.

Motor spirit witnessed 5.38 percent increase in September 2020 and remained 272.57 million liters compared to 258.667 million in September 2019 and witnessed 18.04 percent growth in July-September 2020-21, and remained 818.236 million liters compared to 693.17 million liters during the same period of last year.

The LPG witnessed 9.65 percent growth in September 2020 and remained 63 million compared to 57 million liters in September 2019 and 7.95 percent growth in July-September 2020-21, and remained 201 million liters compared to 187 million liters during the same period of last year.

Jet fuel oil witnessed 36.52 percent decline in September 2020 and remained 48.61 million liters compared to 76.58 million liters in September 2019 and 42 percent decline in July-September 2020-21, and remained 132.4 million liters compared to 231 million liters during the same period of last year.

Cement witnessed 22.81 percent growth during July-September 2020-21 and remained 11.3 million tones compared to 9.20 million tones during the same period of last year, and registered 21.32 percent in September 2020, and remained 4.1 million tons compared to 3.4 million tones during the same period of last year.

Tractors witnessed 17.17 percent growth during July-September 2020-21 and remained 11.23 million compared to 9.58 million during the same period of last year, and registered 13.42 percent in September 2020, and remained 4.55 million compared to 4.01 million during the same period of last year.