China's industrial output grows at slower pace in Jan, Feb

China's industrial output in the first two months of 2008 surged by 15.4%, down 2% compared with the growth rate in December last year, according to the statement of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday.

In February, the country's trade surplus is only one third of the level in the same month last year, totaling US$8.56 billion, according to the customs statistics.

In the first two months, the exports increased by 16.8% year-on-year, while the growth was 41.5% in the same period last year.

The production of the ferrous metals smelting and processing industry surged 14% in the first two months, down 5.4% from December, while the output of crude steel and raw coal surged 6.4% and 13.4% respectively, with 79.45 million tons and 360 million tons.

The moderate decrease for the industrial output growth mainly resulted from the seven-day Chinese New Year holiday and the worst winter weather in five decades, said Fan Jianping, and the slower growth does not mirror the future development trend, as those factors have faded away.