Russia experienced zero growth in industrial output in 2013, Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov said Wednesday, Prime reported.
But the figure represented a slight recovery at the end of 2013, following a contraction in output earlier in the year.
"According to forecasts, by the end of the year we managed to reach the figure for 2012," Manturov said during a speech to the State Duma. In the first 11 months of 2013, the country had recorded a 0.1 percent decline in industrial output.
Officials expect overall economic growth to slow to about 1.3 percent in 2013, its lowest level since a recession in 2009 and far below the 7 percent annual growth recorded in the 2000s.
Manturov told deputies that there had been growth in industrial output in 2013 in some sectors, including defense, pharmaceuticals and energy, while contraction occurred in the metallurgical sector.
The number of vehicles being produced dropped by 1.8 percent in 2013, according to Manturov.
HSBC bank, which publishes a monthly assessment of conditions in Russia's manufacturing economy, said in a report on Jan. 17 that the deterioration in December was the strongest in four years.
"The downturn in Russia's manufacturing sector gathered pace in the final month of 2013," HSBC analysts said. "New inflows stagnated, weighed down by a further drop in export demand."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
