North Macedonia’s industrial output shows minimal growth in May, exports rise as domestic market falls

State statistical data for May indicate that North Macedonia’s industrial turnover increased by just 0.8 % year‑on‑year, highlighting a sluggish recovery. The modest gain was driven primarily by exports, which rose 1.8 % compared with the same month last year, while the domestic market recorded a 1.8 % decline.

Growth was concentrated in capital‑goods production, which saw a 5.3 % rise, and in the output of non‑ferrous minerals (+5.1 %) and machinery (+18.8 %). By contrast, intermediate products, durable consumer goods and non‑durable consumer goods all fell, dragging overall industrial activity down. The limited expansion underscores persistent weakness in domestic demand despite a modest export boost.

Overall, the five‑month cumulative increase stood at only 0.3 % versus the same period in the previous year, suggesting that the sector’s recovery remains uneven and heavily dependent on foreign markets.