The Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased 7.1% y-o-y in August, supported by growth across the manufacturing, mining and quarrying, and utilities sectors, according to preliminary data (pdf) from the General Authority for Statistics.

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Mining and quarrying activity posted the highest growth during the month, going up 8.1% y-o-y, with the Kingdom’s oil output rising to 9.72 mn bbl / d, up from 8.99 mn bbl / d in the same month last year.

Manufacturing followed with a 5.6% y-o-y increase, thanks to 8.9% y-o-y growth in the manufacture of petroleum coke and refined petroleum products and an 8.6% y-o-y uptick in the manufacture of chemical products.

The sub-index of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply activity widened 8.7% y-o-y, while the sub-index of water supply, sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities rose 6% y-o-y.

MEANWHILE- The oil activities index climbed 8.3% y-o-y in August, and the non-oil activities index posted a 4.4% y-o-y increase.

REMEMBER- The Kingdom’s non-oil business activity expanded at a fast pace in August, hitting 56.4, according to the Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI, up from 56.3 in July. The reading remains notably lower than January ’s peak of 60.5.

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