Rwanda’s formal sector industrial output grew by 5.3 per cent in October this year, compared to the same month last year, according to the latest Index of Industrial Production (IIP) published by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR).

The annual average growth rate stood at 6.6 per cent.

The increase in the industrial output was mainly driven by food processing and electricity production, which grew 12 per cent and 9.6 per cent, respectively.

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Other sectors

The output of metal products, machinery and equipment improved 6.3 per cent, water and waste management by 5.8 per cent, and Chemicals, rubber and plastic products by 5.6 per cent.

Manufacturing, which accounts for the largest share of industrial output – at 68.1 per cent, increased by 2.2 per cent.

The increase in manufacturing activities is due to an increase in manufacturing of food processing, a 9.6 per cent increase of manufacturing of beverages and tobacco and a 5.6 per cent increase of manufacturing of chemicals, rubber and plastic products

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However, data shows that mining and quarrying, which account for 15.8 per cent of the total output, declined by 13.3 per cent in October.

Wood, paper and printing output declined by 1.6 per cent, while furniture and other manufacturing dipped 2.9 per cent.