vlad.tribnet.com / Issue #542 / Business / Reading article...

Industrial production in the Primorye region grew 23 percent in the first nine months of 2006 compared to the same period last year, the regional statistics service recently revealed.

The mining industry saw a slight decrease in production, reaching 95.4 percent of its projected volume. Coal extraction went down 3.4 percent to a total of 7,786,000 tons. Lead extraction plummeted by 15 percent. Meanwhile copper extraction increased 1.6 times in the first nine months of 2006 and zinc mining expanded by 17 percent, the statistics said. Metallurgical production grew 23 percent compared to the same period last year.

Production of timber reached only 96 percent of its planned volume while volumes in the production of electricity, gas and water remained at the same level.

Textile production saw a sharp fall of 58 percent. The decline is explained by the fact that most of the joint Russian-Korean sewing plants have closed in the region after unfavorably high taxation.

Production of food and beverages increased 24 percent in the considered period though the agricultural industry did not show much progress, just a 0.2 increase. The industry boasted a more substantial harvest of wheat and potatoes compared to the nine months of the previous year. Production of meat has also grown, while milk and egg production saw a decline.

Construction industry saw a modest increase of 7 percent with 1,223 new apartments built for residents.

Volumes of railway cargo transportation grew by 3 percent. Sea transportation saw an increase in cargo handling, but saw a decline in international cruises. Commercial sea ports handled 24 million tons of cargo showing a 10 percent drop.

Domestic trade turnover amassed 72.6 billion rubles ($2.7 billion) indicating a 12.3 percent increase compared to last year. Sales of alcohol accounted for 13.2 percent of the total trade.

International trade turnover brought in $3.4 billion showing a 27 percent increase compared to the same nine months of the previous year.

Fishing enterprises exported 180,000 tons of fish at a cost of $274 million with the main exports heading to South Korea (37 percent), China (27 percent), Germany (14 percent), the U.S. (9 percent) and Japan (6 percent). Fresh frozen fish made for 48 percent of exported produce, caviar and fish liver accounted for 23 percent, fillet exports took 14 percent and crab 11 percent.