Industrial output of China's large-scale machinery sectors rose 5.4 percent year-on-year in the first two months of 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said.

 

Farm machinery and equipment industry surged as more subsidies were granted. In February alone, the production of large and medium-sized tractors rose 51.4 percent and 60.1 percent, respectively, the ministry said.

 

Heavy machinery and equipment sector, driven by the country's ambitious infrastructure investments, also saw a rise. From January to February, manufacturing of equipment for mining, cement and metal smelting all rose between 4 to 16 percent.

 

Benefiting from a series of boosting measures, such as tax cut, auto producers have sold 1.56 million cars in the first two months, up 2.7 percent over the same period last year.

 

Large-scale shipping industry saw a 43.9 percent growth over the same period last year. Its total industrial output stood at 67.9 billion yuan (9.94 billion U.S. dollars), the ministry said.