Cement, paper, metal lead 121% jump in manufacturing output in 12 months

Manufacturing sector output rose 121 percent year-on-year to N483.53 billion in the second half of 2013 (H2 2013) against the N218.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2012, latest data released by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have shown.

Three key sectors which drove this push include the non-metallic products, the paper and the basic metals sectors.

Output in the non-metallic products sub-sector, comprising cement, ceramics, glass and chalk industries, rose to N215.79 billion in H2 2013, from N8.49 billion recorded in H2 2012. This implies that this sector reported a 2,440 percent spike in 12 months.

Similarly, output in the pulp, paper, printing and publishing sub-sector rose by 386 percent to N18.41 billion in H2 2013, from N3.78 billion recorded in H2 2012.

Furthermore,

India raises minimum export price for onions

India has raised the minimum export price for onions, to maintain price levels at home, as fears grow of a shortage because of adverse weather conditions.

Effective immediately, exports of onions can only take place at or above the price of $500 (£292) per tonne.

That is a 67% jump from the government's recent pricing policy on a key ingredient for Indian dishes.

Two weeks ago the government had set a minimum export price of $300 per tonne.

But at a recent meeting the government's findings showed that wholesale and retail prices of onions have been going up.

The inter-ministerial committee said in a statement