BEIJING -- China's industrial production rose 10.2 percent year on year in September, down slightly from August's 10.4-percent increase, official data showed on Friday.

The country's industrial value-added output climbed 9.6 percent in the first nine months from the same period last year, accelerating from the 9.3-percent rise registered in the first half of the year, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

September's growth, though pulling back slightly from August, represented the second-highest growth rate this year.

The industrial value-added output measures the output of Chinese companies with annual revenues above 20 million yuan ($3.26 million).