4 - 10 May 2000

Manufacturing sales increase

by Anthony Manduca

During the December quarter last year total sales by the large manufacturing establishments amounted to Lm239.7m, an increase of 29.2m or 13.9m over the same quarter in the previous year. Compared with the December quarter in 1997 total sales for the quarter under review increased by Lm46.2m or 23.3 per cent.

A significant increase in sales was registered by the radio, TV and communications sector. This sector's sales increased by Lm20.7m or 21.3 per cent from Lm97.1m in the December quarter 1998 to Lm117.7m in 1999.

Improvements in sales performance were also registered in food and beverages, clothing, rubber and plastic products, machinery and equipment, medical and precision equipment, transport equipment and furniture.

Drops in sales were registered in textiles, leather, non-metallics and fabricated metal products.

During 1999, total manufacturing sales went up by Lm62.9m or 7.6 per cent to Lm892.1m from Lm829.2m in the previous year.

The radio, TV and communication equipment section was the main contributor towards this increase. In the period under review, this sector's sales increased by Lm47.0m or 12.4 per cent to 424.1m from Lm377.2m in the same period last year.

Improvements in sales performance were recorded in food and beverages, printing and publishing, rubber and plastics, machinery and medical equipment. At the same time drops in sales were registered in textiles, leather, non-metallics and office machinery.