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The Manufacturing Sector continues to make
a significant contribution to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of Jamaica with an
average annual GDP share of approximately
16.8% over the last ten years.
The manufacturing sector is a large employer
of labour in Jamaica with an estimated labour
force of approximately 67,000 persons in
2002 (or about 7% of the total employed
labour force) spread across a wide range
of industries. The sector is an important
source of export earnings, with an average
of approximately US$401.8 million over the
last ten years. The main export market is
the USA, where processed foods, beverages
and apparel are major revenue earners.
Petroleum refining, food processing activities
and the carbonated beverages industry performed
creditably. The growth in the output of
poultry meat resulted from increased capacity
by key producers following the acquisition
of new machinery, while the rise in petroleum
production reflected a return to normal
operations at the Petrojam Refinery, which
maintained high output levels and operated
at 95% capacity during the year. Improvements
were seen in the export earnings from Crude
Materials and Mineral Fuels relative to
a similar period in 2001. The value of rum
exports also grew by 18% in 2002. These
improved performances reflected the results
of restructuring processes and retooling
efforts by individual plants seeking to
improve productive efficiency.
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