An annual survey of industrial production showed the manufacturing sector's gross output was $156.4 billion in 2003, down by 9.2% from a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department says.

The sector's gross surplus, equal to gross output less total operating expenses, fell 15.1% from a year earlier, to $17.3 billion in 2003. 

The sector's value-added - a measure of its contribution to Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product - was $46.7 billion in 2003, a 12.5% slide from a year earlier.

Within the manufacturing sector, the five largest broad industry groups in terms of value-added in 2003 were:

* paper products, printing and publishing industry;

* basic metals, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment industry;

* food, beverages and tobacco industry;

* textiles industry, including knitting; and

* wearing apparel, except for knitwear and the footwear industry. 

They together accounted for 79.1% of the sector's total value-added.

Electrical/electronic products industry sees 36% dip

Comparing 2003 with a year earlier, value-added decreases were observed in eight broad industry groups, with more pronounced declines occurring in the electrical and electronic products industry (-35.9%); basic metals, fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment industry (-20.1%); leather, wood and cork products industry (-18.6%); other miscellaneous manufacturing industries (-16.9%) and food, beverages and tobacco industry (-16.7%).