Turkey's manufacturing capacity usage up in April

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish manufacturing industry’s capacity utilization rate rose in April from the previous month, Turkey’s Central Bank said on Wednesday.

The rate climbed 0.7 percentage points month-on-month to reach 75% in April, said the Central Bank survey.

The capacity utilization rate (CUR) figures are based on responses to the bank's business tendency survey by local units operating in the manufacturing industry, according to the bank.

The bank said the monthly data, gathered from some 1,745 companies in April, does not reflect its own views or predictions.

Among over 20 sectors, the highest CUR in April was seen among manufacturers of tobacco products, with 85.13%. The lowest was among manufacturers of leather and related products, with 60.51%.

In the six main industrial groups, the highest capacity usage was 74.70% for intermediate goods, while the lowest CUR was 71.40% for durable consumer goods.