Industrial production in Colombia fell an estimated 7.3% during the first nine months of the year compared with the same period last year, according to a private-sector survey of industrialists released Tuesday.
Industrial sales in the first nine months of the year fell 5.7% on the year, dragged down by sales of cars, auto parts and products of glass, the National Association of Industrialists, known as ANDI, said in its monthly report.
According to ANDI, all the 18 industrial sub-sectors registered a decline in output and in sales in the first nine months of the year.
Production of auto parts registered the sharpest contraction during the first nine months of the year, at 32% on year, while the output of vehicles fell 27%. (Dow Jones)
In September, factories were running at an average capacity of 73.6%, lower than the 79.1% reported for September 2008.
In September, 33% of the business executives surveyed said they expected the situation would improve in the immediate future, up from a 29% average during the first six months of the year, the report said.
The country's statistics department is expected to release retail sales and industrial production on Wednesday.
