IPI (June) Up 0.5% to 136.5

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Industrial Production Index (IPI) for June rose marginally by 0.5 percent to 136.5 from 135.8 in the corresponding month of last year.In a statement here today, the Department of Statistics said the growth was attributed to the rise in electricity index, by 3.1 percent to 156.9; mining index, 1.1 percent to 111.6; and, manufacturing index, 0.2 percent to 143.0."The increase in the manufacturing sector was led by the higher indices registered by the refined petroleum products and basic chemicals groups," it said.The department said the June IPI was down 0.4 percent compared with May this year (137.0) due to lower indices registered in the electricity and mining sectors by 5.2 percent (May:165.5) and 4.2 percent (May:116.5) respectively.The manufacturing index, however, rose 1.2 percent (May:141.3), it said.The department said the IPI registered an increase of 1.5 percent (134.9) for the second quarter of 2007 compared with 132.9 a year ago.The mining index grew 4.7 percent to 112.9; electricity index rose 4.6 percent to 160.3 and manufacturing index up 0.4 percent to 140.0, it said.On quarter-to-quarter comparison, the IPI was up 4.0 percent to 131.0."The electricity and manufacturing sectors expanded by 5.5 percent and 3.6 percent respectively, while mining sector was virtually unchanged at 112.9," it said.The department said the IPI for the first six months of 2007 rose 0.9 percent to 132.9 compared with 131.7 in the same period a year ago."This expansion was in line with the positive change attained by all components."The electricity index rose 4.1 percent to 156.1, mining index up 1.3 percent to 112.9 and manufacturing index rose by 0.5 percent to 137.6," it said.