During the month of October, industries operated at 57.8% of their installed capacity, representing an increase of 3.2 percentage points compared to September. In the wood and furniture sector, a growth of 0.3% was observed annually at constant prices and 5.8% in the seasonally adjusted monthly comparison. Industries in this category operated at 59.3% of their installed capacity, decreasing by 0.8 percentage points compared to September.
Regarding chemicals and plastics, the sector experienced a contraction of 6.6% annually at constant prices in October, but showed a rebound of 7.4% in the monthly comparison. During this month, industries operated with 66.5% of their installed capacity, increasing by almost 5 percentage points compared to September.
In the metal, machinery, and equipment, and transportation material sector, an annual contraction of 2% was recorded in October at constant prices, but a growth of 5.1% in the monthly comparison. These industries operated at 66.3% of their installed capacity, compared to 63.7% in the previous month.
On the other hand, in paper and printing, activity contracted by 20.6% annually at constant prices in October, making it the sector with the greatest decline. Industries in this category operated at 63% of their installed capacity, 0.8 points above September.
In textiles and clothing, production increased by 0.2% annually in October and by 2% compared to September. However, in the first ten months of the year, there is an accumulated decline of 6% annually, 15.6% year-on-year, and a decrease of 14.7% compared to the same period in 2023.
Regarding the responses of small and medium-sized industrial enterprises about their difficulties in paying salaries during October, 'Food and beverages' led with 24.5% of responses, followed by 'Metal, machinery, and equipment, and transportation material' with 22.6%.
Concerning the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Production Index (IPIP), it was noted that the use of installed capacity increased, rising from 60.6% in September to 62.3% in October. CAME highlighted that small and medium-sized enterprises are more concerned about high costs unrelated to the production process than about the decline in production itself. In October, the main obstacles identified by entrepreneurs were high production and logistics costs, while the lack of sales decreased to 35.3% of responses.
The manufacturing activity of SMEs recorded a growth of 4% in the seasonally adjusted measurement in October but a decrease of 6.5% year-on-year. Despite this monthly improvement, production is still below last year's levels.
