The manufacturing and extractive industries index, excluding crude oil and petroleum products, scored 125.97 in May 2018, compared to 122.78 in April 2018, marking an increase of 2.6%, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). The manufacturing of wearing apparel index reached 126.03 in May 2018, compared to 96.66 in April 2018, marking an increase of 30.4%, due to the preparation for Eid and growth in export orders. The CAPMAS added that the manufacture of machinery and equipment index reached 254.29 in May, up from 203.43 in April, marking an increase of 25, due to the increased export orders and growth in production of air conditioners. Moreover, the manufacturing of basic pharmaceutical products index reached 179.38 in May 2018, up from 149.76 in April, marking an increase of 19.8% due to increased export contracts and covering the market need. The manufacturing of mining and quarrying index amounted to 76.19 in May, down from 79.21, scoring a decline of 3.8%. The CAPMAS attributed the fall to export stalling in the summer. Finally, the manufacture of beverages index reached 58.35 in May, dropping by 47.1% from 110.33 in April. According to the CAPMAS, the increase was extraordinary due to Ramadan season, which exceeded demand and created a surplus in the market.
