August 21, 2025
The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) reports that the economy grew by an estimated 1.4 percent in the April to June 2025 quarter, compared with the same period in 2024.
Speaking at the PIOJ’s hybrid quarterly press briefing on Tuesday, Director General Dr. Wayne Henry said the quarter’s outturn reflected continued growth in most industries. During the review period, the Goods Producing Industry expanded by 3.8 percent, while the Services Industry increased by 0.5 percent.
“Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing and the Accommodation and Food Service industries, two of the sectors hardest hit by the weather-related disruptions of 2024, were key drivers of this positive performance. Both industries have entered a new growth phase, with current output now above pre–Hurricane Beryl levels,” Dr. Henry said.
He noted that growth in the economies of Jamaica’s major trading partners, which supported external demand, also influenced performance during the quarter. An increase in the labour force by 24,200 people, together with higher consumer and business confidence, boosted domestic demand and contributed to overall growth.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry grew by 9.8 percent, reflecting more favourable weather. This supported higher output per hectare and an 11 percent expansion in the area of domestic crops reaped. Based on current output levels, the industry has fully recovered from the shock of Hurricane Beryl and is now in a new growth phase.
“The industry’s performance stemmed from a 14.1 percent increase in the output of other agricultural crops. Production rose across all nine crop groups, led by cereals, up 27.8 percent; potatoes, up 22.9 percent; vegetables, up 18.9 percent; condiments, up 18.5 percent; yams, up 11.1 percent; and legumes, up 7.4 percent,” Dr. Henry detailed.
Growth was further supported by a 2.7 percent increase in traditional export crops, a 3.6 percent expansion in post-harvest activities, and a 3.1 percent increase in animal farming, which together offset a 25.5 percent decline in egg production.
Real Value Added in the Mining and Quarrying industry fell by 3.5 percent, reflecting declines in both alumina and crude bauxite production. Alumina output contracted by 5.5 percent, while crude bauxite production declined by 1.5 percent, due to reduced demand from a major overseas purchaser.
Manufacturing output was estimated to have grown by 1.4 percent.
Dr. Henry said Real Value Added in the Construction industry rose by an estimated 1.6 percent, reflecting gains in both Building Construction and Other Construction. “Preliminary data on sales of construction inputs indicate a 0.8 percent increase in real terms, while cement supply to the market expanded by 8.5 percent,” he said.
The sector also benefited from a 745.9 percent increase in National Housing Trust housing starts, driven by 2,077 new starts at the Longville Park housing scheme and a higher level of work in progress, supported by the strong increase in housing starts reported in the previous quarter.
Source: (Caribbean News Global)
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