Industrial production in Colombia fell an estimated 6.7%
during the first half of the year compared with the same period last year,
according to a private-sector survey of industrialists released on Wednesday.
Industrial sales in the first half of the year fell 5% from the same
period in the previous year, dragged down by sales of cars and auto parts, the National Association
of Industrialists, known as ANDI, said in a report.
Output over the first five months of the year had declined 6.8% and
sales had fallen 5.8%.
According to ANDI, 19 of the 22 industrial sub-sectors registered a drop in
production, while 18 of 22 reported a decline in sales in the first six months
of the year.
Production of vehicles registered the sharpest contraction during the first
half of the year, falling 34% from the year-earlier period. The output of auto
parts fell 33%.
In June, factories were running at an average capacity of 72.8%, which is
lower than the 73.2% reported in May and the 77.8% average reported for all of
2008.
In June, 35% of the businessmen surveyed said they expected the situation will
improve, up from 25% at the beginning of the year, the report said.
The country’s statistics department is expected to release retail sales and
industrial production data on August 19.
(Dow Jones)