Kazakhstan sees industrial output decline 2.1% in Jan-July
ALMATY. Aug 11 (Interfax) - Industrial output in Kazakhstan declined 2.1% to 4.432 trillion tenge in January-July 2009 compared to the same period of 2008, the State Statistics Agency said.
Output declined 9.7% in the manufacturing industry and 6% in the production and distribution of electricity, water and gas, but increased 3.2% in the mining industry.
Electricity production fell 6.1% to 44.4 billion kilowatt hours in the seven months.
Kazakhstan produced 200,000 tonnes of refined copper in the period, down 4.8%, and 800,000 tonnes of ferroalloys, down 24.4%.
Oil production grew 5.4% to 43.6 million tonnes in the period, while natural gas output rose 6.2% to 20.6 billion cubic meters.
Industrial production rose 2% in Kazakhstan in 2008 following an increase of 4.5% in 2007.
The Economics and Budget Planning Ministry has predicted industrial production will grow 2% in 2009.
The official exchange rate on August 11 was 150.75 tenge/$1.