Taiwan's industrial production index in December 2012 climbed by 2.4 percent as compared to December 2011 after rising by a revised 5.9 percent year on year in November, and was down 2.55 percent month on month, according to the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). In December, Taiwan's industrial output increased for the sixth straight month on year-on-year basis. However, the country's industrial production index in the whole of 2012 remained almost stable compared to 2011, with a slight decrease of 0.1 percent.
In December last year, industrial output in basic metal manufacturing increased by 4.2 percent and output of metal product manufacturing declined by 2.1 percent, both compared with December 2011. However, the two sectors saw 3.75 percent and 0.55 percent increases respectively on month-on-month basis. In the whole of 2012, a 4.4 percent year-on-year decrease was recorded in basic metal manufacturing output, while the fabricated metal production index fell 3.9 percent compared to 2011.
Meanwhile, in 2012 production in Taiwan's machinery and equipment industry fell by 11.7 percent, output in the automotive industry decreased by 0.15 percent, while production in the Taiwanese construction sector increased by 7.5 percent, all compared to 2011.