Thaís Leitão
Reporter Agência Brasil

Rio - Industrial sector output rose 0.6% in November, compared to October. The cumulative increase for the year, from January to November 2005, was 3.1%, reports the government statistical bureau (IBGE).

The IBGE survey found that production was positive in 15 out of 23 economic segments it studied, with the highlights in food, machinery, electrical equipment, rubber and plastics, perfumes, soap and cleaning products.

Weak performance occurred in chemical products, electronic materials and communications equipment, petroleum refining and production of ethanol, and tobacco.

The IBGE says the modest rise in production in two consecutive months, October and November, has not completely offset the sharp drop of 2.2% in September.

Translation: Allen Bennett