PIOJ Growth-Inducement Strategy - Planning Institute of Jamaica

Analysis of preliminary GCT data revealed that six of the nine goods categories recorded
lowered sales. Those registering lower sales were:
Food Beverage and Tobacco (3.5 per cent)
Automobiles, Commercial and Transport Equipment (1.0 per cent)
Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics (13.4 per cent)
Furniture, Furnishings, Office Equipment and Jewellery (39.1 per cent)
Electronics, Musical and Photographic Equipment (2.1 per cent)
Other Manufactured Goods (8.8 per cent).
Further reduction in value added was mitigated by increases in other indicators, namely:
a 7.0 per cent increase in the value of remittance inflows relative to the
corresponding period of 2009
a 20.2 per cent and 2.0 per cent increase in the stock of loans and advances to
distributors and consumers, respectively
a 3.3 per cent increase in Merchandise Imports for the period January to August 23
2010 relative to the corresponding period of 2009.
Electricity & Water Supply
Real value added for the Electricity & Water industry contracted by 3.2 per cent for the
period January–September 2010 relative to the corresponding period of 2010. This
performance reflected declines in gross generation 24 and water production.
Total generation 25 was 3,139.3 million kWh compared with 3 140.4 million kWh during
the corresponding period of 2009. The relatively flat out-turn reflected the combined
effect of a decline of 0.5 per cent in generation from the JPSCo’s units and a 0.9 per cent
increase in generation from non-JPSCo sources. The reduction in generation occurred
despite higher generation in the January-March 2010 and April-June 2010 quarters as
output in July-September 2010 was impacted by, among other things, the rain related
conditions, including Tropical Depression # 16 and Tropical Storm Nicole. The heavy
rains and strong winds associated with TS Nicole damaged the JPSCo’s transmission and
distribution system resulting in loss of power to some customers. The lower generation
recorded in July-September 2010 must be viewed against the background of record
production levels in the corresponding quarter of 2009, in response to the highest peak
demand at approximately 644.0 million kWh. During that period, both JPSCo and non-
JPSCo sources recorded their highest production levels since their inception.
Electricity sales increased by 1.2 per cent to 2,445.3 million kWh, reflecting higher sales
to all category of consumers, except the Power Service which declined by 3.1 per cent to
570.9 million kWh. The overall improvement in sales was due to increases in the
January-June 2010 period, reflecting expansion in the customer base of some categories
of consumers.
23 Based on data available at the time of compilation.
24 Calculation for real value added is based on gross generation, which is generation from JPSCo inclusive
of Station Use plus purchases from non-JPSCo sources.
25 Total electricity generation is the amount of electricity made available to the national grid.
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