Qatar's Industrial Production Index Drops 1.1% in September 2023

Doha, November 22 (QNA) - Qatar's Industrial Production index (IPI) recorded 104 points in September 2023, a decline by 1.1% compared to the previous month (August 2023), and increased by 1.6% when compared to the corresponding month in 2022. Released by the Planning and Statistics Authority, the IPI is a short-term quantitative index that measures the growth of various industrial sectors in economy. The relative weight of main economic sectors under this indicator include, Mining (82.46%), Manufacturing (15.85%), Electricity (1.16%), Water (0.53%). Data released by the Planning and Statistics Authority on Wednesday showed a decrease in the Mining sector by 0.7% due to the decrease in the quantities of "Crude Oil Petroleum and Natural Gas" with the same percentage, while "Other Mining and Quarrying" decreased by 2.0%. When compared to the corresponding month of the previous year (September 2022), the IPI of Mining increased by 1.9% due to the increase in the quantities of "Crude Oil Petroleum and Natural Gas" with the same percentage, while "Other Mining and Quarrying" decreased by 2.8%. The index of the Manufacturing sector showed a decrease by 3.0% compared to the previous month (August 2023). The groups showed a decrease include: "Manufacture of Basic Metals" by 4.6%, followed by "Manufacture of Rubber and Plastics Products" by 3.5%, "Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products "by 3.2%, "Manufacture of Cement and Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products" by 1.7%, and "Manufacture of Refined Petroleum Products" by 1.3%. However, an increase was recorded in "Manufacture of Beverages" by 1.1%, and "Manufacture of Food Products" by 0.4%. No change noticed in group of "Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media’. In terms of annual change, comparing to September 2022, a decrease of 0.8% was recorded, due to the decrease in ‘’Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media’’ by 9.1%, "Manufacture of Refined Petroleum Products" by 8.1%, "Manufacture of Cement & Other Non-Metallic Mineral Products" by 5.9%, "Manufacture of Rubber and Plastics Products" by 4.9%, "Manufacture of Food Products" by 3.7%, and "Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products" by 0.5%. However, an increase recorded in "Manufacture of Basic Metals" by 11.7%, and "Manufacture of Beverages" by 6.8%. In the Electricity, Gas, Supply sector, a decrease of 3.7% was noticed in the production of "Electricity" between September 2023 and the previous month (August 2023). Comparing with the corresponding month (September 2022), an increase of 8.9% was recorded. In the Water Supply sector, a decrease of 3.8% was noticed in the production of ‘'Water’ between September 2023 and the previous month (August 2023). Compared with the corresponding month (September 2022), a decrease of 0.9% was recorded. (QNA)