It was the steepest contraction since April, as output fell for manufacturing (-7% vs 10.2% in June), electricity, gas, steam & air-conditioning supply (-35% vs -31.6%), and water supply (-2.2% vs -0.2%).

Meanwhile, output declined at a slower rate for mining & quarrying (-2.6% vs -4.5%).

On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, industrial activity tumbled 4.4% in July, from an upwardly revised 4.3% increase in the previous month.