Revenues in the industrial sector fell by 3.6% last year compared to the previous period, reaching 147.2 billion meticais compared to 152.7 billion, in a sample of 337 companies.

According to the data contained in the Balance of the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (BdPESOE), which was recently released by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and which the MZNews had access to, this drop was essentially influenced by the basic metallurgical industry, as a result of the reduction in the price of aluminum on the international market.

"The divisions with the greatest weight in the sector include basic metallurgy with 34.6%, food with 23.8%, beverages with 15.3% and non-metallic minerals with 10.1%, while the remaining 17 divisions together account for 16.2%," reads the document.

In the period in question, according to the MEF, the country's beverage industry division recorded production of 22.5 billion meticais, compared to 22.2 billion in the same period in 2022, corresponding to growth of 1.4%, with a weight of 15.3%. Meanwhile, the tobacco industry recorded production of 4.4 billion meticais, compared to 3.6 billion in 2022, corresponding to growth of 23%.

Also in the category, the clothing industry division recorded production of 1.5 billion meticais, compared to 1.2 billion in 2022, corresponding to growth of around 26.2%.

However, the manufacture of metal products other than machinery and equipment recorded production of 2.5 billion meticais, compared to 2.2 billion in the same period in 2022, corresponding to growth of 13.5%.