Mexico’s mining, construction, and manufacturing industries recorded annual activity declines in April because of the pandemic.
Mining activity fell by 3.6pc, the construction sector plunged by 38.4pc, and manufacturing activity decreased by 35.5pc in April from the same month last year, according to a statement released on June 11 by the National Statistics Association (Inegi).
Mining of metallic and non-metallic minerals also went down by 30.2pc, while edification activity plummeted by 40.4pc, and non-residential construction decreased by 31.9pc, Inegi added.
Production in Mexico’s mining industry could decrease by 17pc this year due to the suspended activity. The total value of mining production is expected to reach MXN203bn ($9.4bn) this year, down from MXN244bn last year, according to the Mexican Mining Chamber.
On June 1, Mexico’s mining, automotive, and construction industries resumed operations after a two-month moratorium on activity to avert spread of the contagion. About 370,000 mining workers in the country will return to work.
The association also noted that industrial activity in Mexico dropped by 25.1pc on an annual basis in April because of the pandemic, marking the greatest monthly decline since October 1995 when activity fell by 17.6pc because of an economic crisis.