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The report provides detailed statistical data on the developments in the broad industrial sector covering mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water. 2. The major developments within each sector during 1998 compared to 1997 were:
Mining and Quarrying The mining and quarrying sector in 1998 increased by 15,8% compared to the previous year. It is estimated that value added of the sector in real terms increased from C£10.514 thousand in 1997, to C£12.180 thousand in 1998. The production of sand gravel and road aggregate, which accounts for the bulk of the sector’s output, rose by 18,7% over 1997 and reached 8.300.000 tonnes in 1998 as against 6.990.000 tonnes in 1997. Increases were recorded in the production of building stones, havara, bentonite and gypsum while the production of marble, clay and umber decreased. Exports of minerals during 1998 rose to C£1,5 million compared with C£1,1 million in 1997 and C£2,4 million in 1988 and accounted for only 0,7% of total domestic exports. Employment in the sector remained at roughly the same level as in the previous year and accounted for about 600 persons.
Manufacturing During 1998 the manufacturing sector continued its recovery due mainly to an increase in local demand and tourism. Value added of the sector increased by 1,1% in real terms compared to a 0,6% increase in 1997. Food, beverages and tobacco, which traditionally is the largest group and in 1998 contributed 35,3% to the manufacturing value added, registered a 2,9% increase at constant market prices in value added. This was mainly the result of an increase in domestic demand. Textiles, wearing apparel and leather, the second largest group, contributing 12,3% to the manufacturing value added, recorded a decline of 2,9% at constant market prices in value added, attributable mainly to a decrease in exports of clothing, footwear and travel goods as well as a decline in domestic demand. Clothing, continued to be in 1998 the most important manufacturing item and its value of production is estimated at C£110,1 million compared to C£114,6 million in 1997. The price index of domestically produced manufactured goods rose by 1,3% over 1997, compared to a 2,3% rise in the previous year. This is attributed to an increase of 1,5% in local market prices, and 1,1% in export prices. Industrial exports, fell to C£170,2 million in 1998 compared with C£176,3 million in 1998 i.e. by 3,5%. Large increases were recorded in exports of cigarettes, wines, cosmetics, metal furniture and fixtures and cheese. Decreases were recorded in exports of fruit juices, cement, wines, edible oils and paper containers and boxes. A relative diversification in the regional composition of manufactured exports towards European markets has been observed in recent years. In particular the share of such exports to European Union countries rose to 44,4% in 1998 from 39,3% in 1987 and 26,6% in 1982, while the share absorbed by Arab countries, fell to 32,5% in 1998 from 45,1% in 1987 and 62,2% in 1982. Expenditure on fixed assets in the sector during 1998 rose to C£58,1 million compared to C£60,2 million in 1997. Machinery and equipment accounted for 64,5% of investment, new buildings and works for 24,3% and transport equipment for the remaining 11,2%. Employment in manufacturing dropped from 40,5 thousand persons in 1997 to 40,4 thousand in 1998. At the same time, the percentage share of unemployment in the sector to total unemployment in the economy remained at 21,5% with monthly average unemployment reaching 2.236 persons in 1998 compared to 2.390 in 1997.
Electricity, Gas and Water During 1998 there was an increase in the rate of economic growth in this sector, estimated at 7,8%, compared to 1,7% in 1997. Generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy, is by far the most important industry of the sector and in 1998 contributed 85,0% to the sectoral value added. Sales of electricity rose by 10,0% to 2.629,0 million kWh in 1998 from 2.391,0 million kWh in 1997. The highest increases were recorded in the consumption by financial, insurance, real estate and business services, distributive trades and water supply. In the manufacturing sector the largest increases in the usage of electricity were recorded in food and metallic mineral products industries. Decreases were observed in the clothing, footwear and non metallic mineral products industries. Consumption of electricity by households rose by 8,4%, for public lighting by 3,3% and for water pumping purposes decreased by 12,2%. Expenditure on fixed assets in the sector rose to C£98,8 million from C£59,5 million in 1997. Construction works for the extension and re-inforcement of the electricity transmission system and the water supply system accounted for 27,4% of investment. Machinery and equipment accounted for 72,0% and transport equipment for the remaining 0,6%. Employment in the sector remained at about the same level as in the previous year and accounted for 1,6 thousand persons, which represents less than 0,6% of the total gainfully employed population for the production of the Gross Domestic Product. 3. The report is available for sale from the Government Printing Office at the price of C£7,00.
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