Output prices for producers in the mining and quarrying industry increased by 0.4 per cent for November 2023, while the manufacturing industry declined by 0.7 per cent.

The data, which was released last week by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) shows that the increase in the index for the ‘Mining and Quarrying’ industry was attributed to a 0.4 per cent rise in the index for the major group ‘Bauxite and Alumina Processing’. For the manufacturing industry, there was a decline of 0.7 per cent. 

The decrease in the industry’s index was due mainly to a fall of 4.0 per cent in the index for the major group ‘Refined Petroleum Products’. The overall decrease was tempered by a 0.2 per cent rise in the index for the major group ‘Food, Beverages and Tobacco’. 

For the point-to-point period, November 2022 – November 2023, the index for the ‘Mining & Quarrying’ industry increased by 4.7 per cent. This was a result of a 4.6 per cent increase in the index for the major group ‘Bauxite Mining & Alumina Processing’. 

For the similar point-to-point period, the index for the manufacturing industry increased by 2.1 per cent. Contributing to this increase were the major groups ‘Food, Beverages & Tobacco’ (2.3 per cent). 

‘Refined Petroleum Products’ were up 2.6 per cent while ‘Other Manufacturing’ rose by 10.1 per cent.

These increases were however moderated by a decline of 4.3 per cent in the index for the major group, ‘Fabricated Metal Products excluding Machinery & Equipment’.