HANOI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's national index of industrial production advanced 7.5 percent year on year in the first four months of this year, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Thursday.
The processing and manufacturing sector, the main driver behind the surge, went up by 8.3 percent. The electricity production and distribution sector expanded by 6.6 percent, and the water supply and waste management sector went up by 1.1 percent, said the office.
In April alone, the industrial production index rose 2 percent against March and 9.4 percent year on year.
Production activities during the month posted expansion as the latest COVID-19 wave, which affected a number of industrial parks, was brought under control, the office noted.
From January to April, the production of monosodium glutamate and phone accessories witnessed the largest output increase year on year of 21.5 percent each, followed by steel bars, up 15.2 percent, fabrics made from natural fibers, up 13.5 percent, and urea fertilizer, up 13.2 percent.
Over the months, the total number of employees in the industrial sector increased by 3.9 percent year on year, said the office. ■