The manufacturing industry is growing at a slower pace than a year ago , according to the latest data from the monthly manufacturing activity index (IMAM) in July, calculated by the Central Bank.
According to the update, the industry showed a year-on-year growth rate of 3.99%, down from 4.20% a year ago, and an average rate of change of 3.85%, down from 4.23% a year ago.
Industrialists stressed that the pace of growth is lower if activities inside and outside the free zone are isolated.
This behavior continues to be influenced by the good performance of activities in the Free Trade Zone, with a year-on-year rate of 8.5% in June, but outside the free zone, the industry showed only a year-on-year growth of 1.7%,”
said Francisco Gamboa, executive director of the Chamber of Industries.
They believe this is also seen in exports, since external sales of the free zone industrial sector grew by almost 14% in July, but those of companies outside the free zone grew by 4.7 %.
We expect that in the next few months the industry outside the free zone will have a greater acceleration because that could generate more employment and contribute to lower unemployment in the country. Costa Ricans want and need more jobs, in fact, that is their biggest concern,”
said Gamboa.