Serbia's industrial output in January was 2.7 percent lower than in January 2011, with a 16 percent drop against the 2011 average, the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (RZS) stated on Wednesday.

Viewed per sector and compared to January last year, the production in the processing industry went down by 7.6 percent, while mining rose by 10.9 and the supply of electricity, gas, steam and heating by 6.2.

The data related to purpose groups for January 2012 compared to January 2011 shows a drop in capital products (18.8 percent), non-permanent products for broad consumption (9 percent) and permanent products for broad consumption (8.4 percent).

A drop was also recorded when it comes to intermediate products, apart from energy, 3.2 percent, while a rise was registered in energy production, 5.1 percent.

The industrial output compared to January 2011 slumped in 17 areas (58 percent share of the total output) and grew in 12 areas (42 percent share of the total output), the RZS data shows.

The drop in the January industrial production was mostly affected by the production of basic metals, food, basic pharmaceuticals, tobacco products and motor vehicles and trailers.

The deseasoned index of industrial production in January 2012 compared to December 2011 shows a total drop of 0.3 percent, with processing industry growing by 0.3 percent.

The deseasoned index of industrial production compared to the 2011 average shows a total drop of 1.1 percent, while the processing industry dropped by 2.3 percent.