Russian industrial output back to 1.1% growth in March

Russian industrial output back to 1.1% growth in March
After contracting for 11 months, Russia's industrial production was back in the black, expanding by 1.1% in March as the economic recovery got underway / bne IntelliNews
By bne IntelliNews April 16, 2021

Russian industrial output posted 1.1% year-on-year growth in March 2021, according to RosStat statistics agency data, making the first y/y growth in a year.

As reported by bne IntelliNews, in February industrial production fell heavily by 3.7% y/y due to the leap year affect, down from a 1.9% contraction seen in January. 

But in March, industrial output grew in two key segments: manufacturing was up 4.2% y/y and output in utilities rose 11% y/y. Extraction remained in the negative zone (-5.6% y/y) due to significant falls in the production of crude oil (-9.5% y/y), the same as previously capped by OPEC+ output cuts. 

"In March, production of the majority of industrial goods was up in y/y terms, with the largest gains seen in the output of natural gas, textiles and clothing, electronics, wood-processing, automotive industry and defence-related items," BCS Global Markets commented on April 16.

A change in the base factor will lead to considerable improvements in the y/y dynamic in industry in April, as well as in the economy at large, chief economist of BCS GM Vladimir Tikhomirov argues. 

BCS GM expects positive trends to continue in the following months as well, although anticipating a gradual moderation in growth rates during 2H21. The analysts reiterate the forecast for industrial production growth in 2021 at 5.9% y/y (in 1Q21, industry was still in decline at -1.3% y/y).

Analysts at Sberbank CIB also expect to see industrial production grow in y/y terms in the upcoming months due to the low base effect caused by the pandemic. Sberbank CIB's forecast is for industrial growth for the year to come in at 4%.

Data

Dismiss