Riyadh – Mubasher: The Industrial Production Index of Saudi Arabia increased by 0.5% in May this year compared to the same month in 2020, according to official data.

The rise in the Kingdom’s industrial output was mainly attributed to higher production in mining and quarrying activity by 0.8% in May.

Saudi Arabia raised its oil production from 8.4 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2020 to 8.5 million bpd in May this year, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) said on Sunday.

Manufacturing activities, meanwhile, increased by 1.9% on an annual basis last May. Electricity and gas supply activity fell 13.7%, yet signalling the lowest weight of 2.9% in the index.

On a monthly basis, Saudi Arabia’s industrial production soared 3.5% in May compared to April, backed by a 5% monthly gain in mining and quarrying activity.

Non-oil manufacturing activity was down 2.7% in May, compared to April. Meanwhile, electricity and gas supply increased by 18.8%.