The production index for manufacturing and extractive industries surged by 8.8% during November 2015, the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) revealed in a report issued Thursday. The index saw an increase from 119.10 in October to 129.57 in November, according to the report. "Total index for manufacture of basic metals products (Iron and steel) reached 77.09 during November 2015," CAPMAS said. In October 2015, the index recorded 63.27. The 21.8% month-on-month increase was due to the stabilisation of the energy extended to all the factories. The report added that the total index for transportation equipment increased by 84.4% in November to record 2,112.28, against 1,145.73 in October 2015. The agency said this notable surge was due to "increased manufacturing [of] rail carriages and rail cars". The manufacturing index of food however declined nominally, dropping from 143.06 to 412.06. This decline was attributed to increased rainfall during November, as well as the shortage of raw materials for some industries, such as barley rice and crude oil.
