Amman, Oct. 14 (Petra) – Nine out of 10 industrial sectors recorded production growth from the beginning during the January- August period, reflecting the "continued positive" activity in the national industrial sector.
According to statistical data from the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI), the construction industry topped the list of sectors at a growth rate of 5.5%, driven by increased domestic demand for building materials and the expansion of infrastructure projects.
The packaging sector ranked 2nd with a growth rate of 4.1%, followed by the engineering industries sector, which grew by 3.8%. Meanwhile, the plastics and rubber industries sector recorded a decline of 3.5%, affected by the "rising" costs of raw materials and the slowdown in demand in some regional markets.
At the sub-sector level, the quarrying sector recorded a "remarkable" growth of 28%, followed by the mineral products industry at 26% and the pesticide and other agrochemical products industry at 39%. The data revealed the Kingdom's pharmaceutical, medical, and medicinal plant products industry achieved growth of approximately 3%.
Production in the pulp, paperboard, and cardboard industry went up by 10% and the footwear industry by 2%. The basic iron and steel industry recorded a "remarkable" growth of 37%, and the electrical motors, generators, and transformers industry rose by 2%.
The JCI said this "positive" performance reflects "resilience" of the Jordanian industrial sector and its ability to adapt to regional and global economic challenges, including rising energy prices and transportation costs.
The chamber added that the continued growth in most sectors indicates "success" of Jordanian factories in improving their production "efficiency" and adopting technological solutions that contribute to reducing costs and raising the quality of Jordanian products. If the current pace of growth continues, the industrial production index is "likely to record a growth rate of approximately 3.2% by the end of the year, reflecting positive indicators of stable industrial activity and improved domestic and foreign demand for Jordanian products," the chamber predicted.
The chamber noted the industrial sector remains "one of the key drivers" of economic growth in the Kingdom, providing thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities, in addition to its role in promoting national exports and diversifying the production base.
The chamber noted the positive results of the industrial production index represent a "realistic" translation of the efforts of Jordanian factories to increase their operational capacities and expand their presence in regional and international markets. On future steps, the JCI called for continuing to support the industrial investment environment to enhance "competitiveness" of the national product and maintain the sustainability of industrial growth.
//Petra// AG
