Smaller firms' factory operating rate on rise

SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Yonhap) -- The factory operating rate of South Korea's small and medium enterprises rose for the sixth month in a row in July amid signs of economic recovery, a business organization said Thursday.

Local small and mid-size companies operated at an average 69.2 percent of their
capacity last month, up from 68.2 percent in June, according to the Korea
Federation of Small and Medium Business.
The federation said the figure has been on the rise since February when it hit
bottom at 63.9 percent.
The average capacity utilization rate of small firms this month reached the level
of the same month last year, when the rate was 69.8 percent.
The federation attributed the increase to the growth in output and export of
automobiles and electronics, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs).
The local small and medium enterprises whose operating rate was more than 80
percent accounted for 37.7 percent of the total, rising from 35.4 percent in
June, it added.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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