Saudi industrial production index up 5.8% in August

A factory production line

Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose by 5.8% year-on-year (YoY) to 119.05 points in August, with 2010 used as the base year, data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) showed.

The Industrial Production Index (IPI) measures relative change and reflects the progress of production volumes of materials and goods, which is converted from raw materials into finally produced consumables in the form of commodities, for the purpose of achieving a return.

The index increase was attributed to the rise in the mining and quarrying activity index by 7% by the end of August, as the Kingdom hiked oil production to 9.5 million barrels per day (bpd) during the month from 8.9 million bpd a year earlier.

The manufacturing industry index rose by 5%, while the electricity supply index fell by 4% during the same month.

The GASTAT defines manufacturing industries as industries whose activity involves the conversion of raw materials into finished products or intermediate products. Electricity, gas and water supply industries are known for electricity and gas delivery, as well as water supply, sewage, waste management and treatment activities. Extractive industries are involved in the process of extracting raw materials from the ground, and these industries rely on natural materials that cannot be replenished or compensated, such as oil and minerals.

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