ISLAMABAD, June 17: Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) posted a growth of 4.07 per cent during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year from a year ago.

Major contribution towards positive growth in LSM performance in the 10 months from a year ago came from food, beverages and tobacco 8.21 pc, iron and steel products 11.13 pc, petroleum products 16.12pc, paper and board 18.65pc, rubber products 16.16pc, pharmaceuticals 11.12pc, non-metallic mineral products 5.74pc and textile 1.12pc, suggested data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics issued on Monday.

Last year, the LSM sector, which accounts for 70pc of industrial production, recorded a negative growth because of energy crisis, ever-rising input cost and lack of demand in domestic and international market.

On a monthly basis, LSM output increased by 4.76pc in April 2013 from a year ago.

Improved supply of gas, especially to textile industries, in the past few months increased the output.

Some sectors, like fertilizers, witnessed a negative growth of 5.45pc, electronics 5.02pc, leather products 1.86pc, wood products 15.59pc, engineering products 15.33pc, automobiles 12.12pc and chemicals 0.79pc during the months under review over last year.

Relying on growth in the past few months, the government had expected that the economy would grow by about 3.8pc as against 4pc growth in economy last year.

Industry specific data showed that many sub-sectors didn’t perform well in July-April period, mostly electronic goods led to jump in import of consumer items.

In electronic and electrical goods, production of deep-freezers was down by 1.89pc, air-conditioners 3.44pc, electric bulbs 3.75pc, electric tubes 28.81pc, electric fans 2.08pc, electric motors 13.56pc, electric meters 18.82pc, TV sets 60.57pc, batteries 9.50pc and generating sets 14.57pc during the period under review.

However, refrigerators recorded a growth of 12.60pc; switch gears 21.72pc, transformers 22.95pc, bicycles 6.54pc during the 10 months of 2012-13 over the last fiscal year.

The growth was witnessed in case of food, beverages and tobacco. The sector has adjusted weightage of 12.37pc in LSM basket.

Vegetable ghee production increased by 5.50pc during the period under review, while production of oil was up by 11.95pc and tea blended 18.16pc.

Another important sector, which provides jobs in large numbers across the country is automobile. Trucks production fell by 27.10pc, jeeps and cars 23pc, LCVs 31.81pc and motorcycle 2.59pc during the period under review.

However, production of tractors, buses and motorcycles increased 22.31pc, 2.16pc and 2.68 pc, respectively.