The monthly increase was mostly due to a 15.8% increase in mining, while the growth was kept down by a 3.1% decline in electricity, steam and gas supply.

Compared to March 2016, mining increased by as much as 38.9% and the output of manufacturing grew by 10.5%.

Mining saw the biggest increase also in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year with a 14.1% hike, while manufacturing output was 6.7% higher and electricity, steam and gas supply was up 3%.

Industrial revenue in March was 2.2% higher than in February and 9.2% higher than in March 2016, while the revenue in the first three months of 2017 increased by 4.6% year-on-year.

Inventories continued to rise, growing by 1.5% over the previous month, 6.6% over March 2016. Inventories in the first quarter were 5.6% higher than in the same period last year.