Industrial output in July rose 1.7 percent from the previous month, with an upward revision from a preliminary increase of 1.1 percent, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry said in a report released Sept. 17.

The production index for the nation's mines and factories, which takes 1990 as a base year of 100, stood at a seasonally adjusted 103.5, which represents a 5 percent increase from a year ago, according to the report. The operating ratio at industrial facilities for the reporting month stood at at a relatively good level at 89.6, rising 0.9 percent from the previous month, a ministry official said.

The production capacity index was 102, unchanged from both the previous month and a year ago. This is the first time since January 1995 that the index registered a non-negative figure, according to the ministry.