Armenia's processing industry's output ups 4.3% to 765.1 bln in 6 months

YEREVAN, August 8. /ARKA/. Armenia's processing industry grew to over 765.1 billion drams in the first half of 2023, up 4.3% compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistical Committee.

In June the processing industry grew by 151.5 billion drams, a 5.9% drop against June 2022. Food production accounted for the largest share - 33.1%. This segment showed a 3.4% decline in the reporting period, with production worth 253.5 billion drams.

The production of beverages grew by 7.3% yoy to 95 billion drams (12.4% of the total). Production of non-metallic mineral products surged by 29.1% to 93.2 billion drams. Production of basic metals slashed by 16% to 74.4 billion drams, production of tobacco products grew by 16.1% to 73.8 billion drams, printing activities and reproduction of recorded media doubled to 22.4 billion drams.

Also, production of finished metal products increased by 38.8% to over 11.1 billion drams and production of chemicals increased by 40.7% to over 11 billion drams.

Production of electrical equipment decreased by 18%, to over 9.1 billion drams, production of machinery and equipment not included in other groups decreased by 24% to about 7.8 billion drams.

Production of furniture grew by almost 6% to over 6.2 billion drams and production of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations dropped by 13.5% to over 5.6 billion drams.

Production of computers, electronic and optical devices decreased by 10.7% to 4 billion drams, production of textile products increased by 65.8% to 2.1 billion drams, production of leather and leather goods increased by 19.6% to about 2 billion drams.

Overall, Armenia's industrial output in the first six months of 2023 amounted to about 1.2 trillion drams in current prices, an increase of 1% compared to the same months of 2022, -0-