The industrial production index fell 2.3% in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, following a 1.5% year-on-year fall in the first quarter, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The corresponding producer price index rose 2.6% in the second quarter from a year earlier, as compared with a 2.5% year-on-year rise in the first quarter.

Comparing a year earlier, the apparel (except footwear) industry saw the largest fall in output (-28.1%), followed by the electrical and electronic products, machinery, professional equipment and optical goods industry (-14.5%) and the textiles (including knitting) industry (-12.2%).

Increases in output were recorded for the food, beverages and tobacco industry (19.4%), the chemical, rubber, plastic and non-metallic mineral products industry (12.7%), and the paper products and printing industry (2.8%).

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the index of industrial production for the manufacturing sector as a whole fell 1.5%.

Comparing the second quarter with a year earlier, the fabricated metal products (except machinery and equipment) industry has had the largest increase in producer prices (4.8%), followed by plastic products (3.3%), textiles (including knitting) (1.8%), paper products and printing (1.2%), and machinery, equipment, apparatus, parts and components (1%).

Producer prices in the consumer electrical and electronic products industry fell 0.4%, while the apparel (except footwear) industry producer price remained virtually unchanged.