BEIJING- China's industrial value-added output may exceed the 11-percent growth target set for the whole year in 2010, although the pace of increase may slow in the second half, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Tuesday.

The country's industrial value-added output growth has dropped in month-on-month terms since the start of the year. It grew 13.7 percent in June year on year, down from a 16.5-percent increase in May.

Ministry spokesman Zhu Hongren said at a press conference that the slower growth in industrial value-added output in the first half was partly due to last year's high comparison base and the country's efforts to eliminate outdated capacity.

A slower growth rate in terms of industrial production reflects the country's push to accelerate industrial restructuring and change the growth model, he said.

He also ruled out the possibility of a double-dip recession in the second half although "some challenges and uncertainties still remained," including higher labor costs and a fragile export recovery.