Hong Kong's manufacturing sector saw its gross output rise 3.5% from a year earlier, to $163.2 billion last year, while the gross surplus rose 6.9% to $20 billion, the Census & Statistics Department says.

According to the results of the 2005 Annual Survey of Industrial Production rolled out today, the manufacturing sector's value-added - a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's gross domestic product - amounted to $47.3 billion, up 1.3% from a year earlier.

Within the manufacturing sector, the five largest broad industry groups in terms of value-added last year were:

* paper products, printing and publishing industry;

* basic metals, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment industry;

* food, beverages and tobacco industry;

* textiles (including knitting) industry; and

* wearing apparel, except knitwear and footwear industry.

They together accounted for 77.9% of the total value added of the whole sector.

Increases seen in five industries

Increases in value-added were also seen in five broad industry groups, with the chemical, rubber, plastic and non-metallic mineral products industry up 18.8%; electrical and electronic products industry up 9.7%; paper products, printing and publishing industry up 6.3%; wearing apparel, except knitwear and footwear industry up 5%; and basic metals, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment industry up 0.7%.

However, the value-added in the textiles (including knitting) industry went down 17.7%; in food, beverages and tobacco, it fell 4%; and in other miscellaneous manufacturing industries it was down 2.2%.

The survey was conducted from January to October this year. Apart from manufacturing establishments, it also covered those engaged in quarrying, and electricity, gas and water supply.

More detailed survey results will be available in the Report on 2005 Annual Survey of Industrial Production. Users can download the report in PDF format free of charge here from the end of December.