BEIJING — China’s value-added industrial output expanded 6.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of this year, faster than the 6-percent increase a year ago, official data showed on Oct 19.

The growth rate was flat with that of the first eight months, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In September, industrial output rose 6.6 percent year-on-year.

Industrial output is used to measure the activity of designated large enterprises with annual turnover of at least 20 million yuan ($3 million).

High-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors posted stellar performance in the first three quarters, with the output up 13.4 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively, as the country encourages factories to move up the industrial value chain.