Turkey’s industrial production increased 3.4 percent in April

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Turkey’s industrial production increased 3.4 percent in April from the same month a year earlier and rose 1.3 percent from the previous month, Turkey’s state-run statistics body, TÜİK, revealed yesterday.

“In the first four months, there was a 2.2 percent rise in industrial production. In the first quarter this was about 1.3 percent. That is why the first quarter’s growth figures, which are expected to be announced tomorrow, will not be so bright. However, today’s announcement of industrial production may provide us with the opportunity to be more optimistic about growth,” Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan said in a written statement.

In the subsectors of industry, mining and quarrying increased 3.1 percent, manufacturing increased 3.6 percent and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply index increased 2.3 percent in April 2013 when compared to April 2012. Comparing April 2013 to March 2013, in the subsectors of industry, mining and quarrying increased 0.1 percent, manufacturing increased 1.4 percent and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply index increased 1.1 percent. 

Comparing to March, there was an incline expectation, said Çağlayan, adding that the importation of capital goods rose 16 percent and importation of raw materials increased by 18 percent in April 2013.

“The EU economy is still weak, yet any kind of recovery will have pluses on our side... However, we will not wait for it. We see all other regions as our natural export markets now. By these means, in the past four years we have completed $43.6 billion worth of addition exportation,” he said.