For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OUS/330
17 February 2016

Re-issued as received

Global manufacturing increased modestly in 2015 as growth slowed in developing and emerging industrial economies - UNIDO report

VIENNA, 17 February (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - Global manufacturing production rose by just 2.8 per cent in 2015 as developing and emerging industrial economies registered reduced growth rates, according to the 2016 edition of the International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics released in Vienna today.

The Yearbook, published by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), states that despite a declining manufacturing growth rate, China has become the largest manufacturer in the world, surpassing the United States.

Japan, Germany and the Republic of Korea stand in third, fourth and fifth positions respectively. Among other industrial economies, India moved up to sixth position, leaving Italy and France in seventh and eighth positions among the world's leading manufacturers. Indonesia has become a new entrant to the group of top 10 manufacturers.

Since the 2008-2009 financial crisis, which had strong negative impact on manufacturing growth of industrialized economies, emerging industrial economies have maintained relatively higher manufacturing production growth rates.

In recent years, however, this growth rate has decelerated due to falling commodity prices and adverse conditions for external finances. The manufacturing value added (MVA) growth rate of developing and emerging industrial economies dropped to 4.5 per cent in 2015 from 5.4 per cent in 2014.

In contrast, industrialized economies improved their growth performance thanks to lower fuel prices and improved fiscal conditions. In 2015, the manufacturing value added of industrialized economies grew by 1.5 per cent.

As well as presenting the annual figures on global manufacturing growth and structure, the Yearbook also presents figures on rising inequality among the nations in terms of MVA per capita. The difference between the MVA per capita of industrialized economies and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has been consistently rising over the last 25 years. Currently, the MVA per capita of industrialized economies stands at US$ 5,350, compared to US$ 89 of LDCs.

The International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics is one of UNIDO's major statistical publications. It presents detailed, country-specific, business structure statistics which are directly related to several indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 9 concerning industrialization.

Current estimates of global manufacturing growth rates are presented in UNIDO's Quarterly Report on World Manufacturing Production

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UNIDO maintains an international industrial statistics database covering mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity gas and water supply, and the international trade of manufactured goods. UNIDO data can be accessed online or obtained on CD products.

The International Yearbook of Industrial Statistics 2015 is a joint publication of UNIDO and Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-78536 492 1 (cased) and 978-1-78536 493 8 (eBook).

The book can be ordered online here

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For further information on the report, please contact:

Shyam Upadhyaya
UNIDO Chief Statistician
Email: Shyam.Upadhyaya[at]unido.org