Bulgaria's Industrial Sector Keeps Growing

Bulgaria's industrial production increased by 7.8% in May 2011 year-on-year, according to fresh data from the National Statistical Institute.

Bulgaria's extraction industry grew by 20.8% in May 2011 compared with May of last year, while the energy sector grew by 12.7%, and the processing industry (manufacturing) – by 5.9%.

Compared with April 2011, the industrial production in Bulgaria is down 0.5%. The decrease, however, is primarily due to a decline in the energy output by 6%, while the extraction industry grew by 9.8% on a monthly basis, and the processing industry, or manufacturing – by 1.9%.

Certain sectors in the processing industry, however, saw a substantial growth in May. The production of plastic and rubber items grew by 13.7%, the machine-building sector – by 11.7%, and the chemical industry – by 10.7%.

The repairs and installment of machinery and equipment is down by 15.7% in May on a monthly basis, the production of timber and related products excluding furniture – by 7.4%, and the production of tobacco products – by 6.7%.