Taiwan's Industrial Production Dips to Six-month Low in April

Taipei, June 2, 2009 (CENS)--Taiwan's annual growth of industrial production posted a minus 19.88% in April, the lowest drop in six months; and, after seasonal adjustment, the percentage rose a monthly 6.79%, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

Huang Chi-shih, director general at the Statistics Department of the MOEA, indicated that the last five months saw Taiwan's manufacturing industry in a doldrums, with the April manufacturing production index at 61.32, which is expected to expand in May.

In April the industries suffering a large drop in production included machinery equipment, metal products, and furniture, with those seeing rising production including pharmaceuticals, tobacco, coal, and petroleum, Huang said.

In the same month, electronic devices and parts, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the island's manufacturing production value, posted an annual drop of 16.25% in output, the lowest in six months.

In the first four months, Taiwan's industrial production plunged an annual 29.16%, with manufacturing industry tumbling by 29.99%.