According to China’s National Bureau of Statistics, industrial output increased by 5.9% y/y in April 2015. However, cement production declined by 7.3% when compared to April 2014, coming in at 208.65 million t. In January – April 2015, cement output was 4.8% lower than in the same period last year. Coal output was also down, falling by 7.4% y/y to 298.02 million t in April and dropping by 6.1% in the January – April period.
Other products to experience falls in April 2015 included pig iron (-2.1% y/y) and crude steel (-0.7% y/y). Crude oil and natural crude oil output grew by 6.9% y/y and 2.8% y/y, respectively, while natural gas decreased by 2.9% y/y.
Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham