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The positive growth was fuelled by the processing and manufacturing industry which increased remarkably by 11 percent compared to the same period last year, head of the GSO Nguyen Bich Lam told a recent conference in Hanoi.
He added the index rose 9.4 percent year-on-year for electricity production and distribution and 8.5 percent for water supply and waste treatment.
Meanwhile, the mining industry fell 2.1 percent in the three-month period.
Several sectors recorded IIP surges such as coke production (96 percent); metal manufacturing (37 percent); motor vehicles (21 percent); rubber and plastics (13 percent) and beverages (11 percent).
Other products that recorded a high production index compared with the same period last year included refined petroleum products (up 73.2 percent), iron and steel (65 percent), television sets (50 percent) and liquefied petroleum gas (38 percent). Others included urea fertiliser (up 13 percent), footwear (12 percent) and fish feed (11 percent).
From January to March, the IIP of 59 out of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities increased over the same period last year. The central province of Thanh Hoa recorded the highest IIP growth rate at 51.2 percent thanks to the Nghi Sơn oil refinery and petrochemical plant in the locality officially began commercial operations in December.
The southern province of Tra Vinh came next with growth of 41 percent because of the Duyen Hai thermal power plant’s production expansion. It was followed by the central province of Ha Tinh (34 percent) and the northern port city of Hai Phong (20 percent). The northern provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh and Hai Duong recorded 12 percent, 10 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively.
Meanwhile, the country’s economic hubs of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi lagged behind with respective IIP increases of 7 percent and 7.2 percent, the GSO noted.
According to the office, the number of employees working at industrial companies as of March 1 had risen by 2.3 compared to a year ago. — VNS/VNA