The index of manufacturing (excluding crude oil and petroleum products) fell to 122.95 during September, compared to 126.25 during August—a decrease of 2.6%, due to the fall of activities during the Eid Al-Adha holiday. A recent report issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) on the metadata of the production index of manufacturing and extractive industries for September showed that the total index for the manufacture of textiles reached 111.98 during that month, compared to 88.07 during August. This notes an increase of 27.1% due to meeting the needs of the domestic market and the availability of raw materials and supplies. The report added that the total index of manufacture of basic metals reached 93.76 during September, compared to 61.52 during August, marking a hike of 52.4% due to an increase in demand and sales, and the return of some factories to work after the annual maintenance period. Moreover, the total index for manufacture of food products reached 113.53 during September, compared to 132.80 during August. The decrease of 14.5% came in part due to a drop in the amount of wheat processed in mills. The total index for the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations reached 122.90 during September, compared to 136.38 during August—a decrease of 9.9% due to decreased production, pre-existing stocks of some companies, and the non-availability of raw materials and supplies.
