BEIJING -- China posted year-on-year industrial growth of 15.7 percent through October, valued at $59 billion, according to official figures released Wednesday.
The National Bureau of Statistics said China's electric power production increased 15.8 percent over the same period last year, a rise of almost four percentage points compared with the average increase in the third quarter.
The NBS reported that among major raw material indicators, crude steel production rose 25.4 percent while rolled steel production was up 21.5 percent and cement output climbed 13.3 percent.
Manufacturing of power generating equipment, such as power station boilers and gas, registered big jumps ranging from 50.7 percent to 135.6 percent. The NBS stated output of household air-conditioners was up 65.3 percent, household fans 55.3 percent, and household refrigerators 27.3 percent compared with October 2003.
Looking at value-added industries through the first ten months of 2004, the NBS said China's were worth $529 billion, a jump of 16.9 percent. Between January and October, exports of industrial products had a growth rate of 33.2 percent, valued at slightly over $353 billion. Exports in October alone totaled $41.5 billion, up 33.8 percent over the same period a year ago.
