For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/301
4 September 2015
Re-issued as received
VIENNA, 4 September (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Global manufacturing production is expected to maintain a steady rise in 2015 despite the declining trends observed in key emerging industrial economies, especially in China. World manufacturing value added is likely to grow by 3.5 per cent during 2015 according to mid-year estimates produced by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). However, regional conflicts, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, and financial instability in Europe, may adversely affect the growth figures.
The manufacturing growth rates for the second quarter of 2015 depict a mixed picture for both industrialized and developing economies. In the United States manufacturing has benefitted from falling oil prices while Euro zone manufacturing products became more competitive as a result of a weaker Euro in the global market. Manufacturing output in Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore remained in decline.
According to UNIDO estimates, the manufacturing output of industrialized countries rose by 0.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2015. The manufacturing output of Europe's industrialized economies increased by 1.1 per cent, but the manufacturing output sharply dropped in Switzerland due to the strength of the Swiss Franc which increased the price of Swiss exports.
Developing and emerging industrial economies maintained much higher growth, at 5.2 per cent. However this was still a low performance compared to the growth figures of these countries in the recent past.
China's manufacturing recorded the lowest ever growth rate for a decade. Brazil, another major emerging industrial economy, encountered a sharp fall of 8.5 per cent in manufacturing output in the second quarter of 2015, compared to the same period in the previous year. Negative growth was also observed in key African economies, such as Egypt and the Republic of South Africa.
A number of Asian economies performed well in the second quarter. The manufacturing output of India grew by 3.6 per cent, Indonesia by 5.4 per cent and Viet Nam by 9.9 per cent. The growth of these countries had a positive impact on the production of essential goods such as food and beverages, wearing apparel and consumer electronics.
UNIDO regularly releases the statistics on current growth trends of global manufacturing at country and regional level.
UNIDO maintains an international industrial statistical database in accordance with the mandate of the United Nations Statistics Commission. Data can be downloaded through online access or obtained through CD products and publications.
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For more information, please contact:
Shyam
Upadhyaya
Chief Statistician, UNIDO
Email: s.upadhyaya[at]unido.org
