Production volumes in manufacturing showed modest growth for the third month in a row
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2025, the total production of industrial enterprises increased by 0.5% at constant prices compared with March last year. Among the three industrial sectors, output increased by 1.2% in manufacturing but decreased by 1.7% in energy production and by 6.1% in mining.
Helle Bunder, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that the volume of manufacturing production showed a modest increase in each month of the first quarter. “Manufacturing, which had been in a slump since summer 2022, started to show the first signs of recovery in October and November last year. This year has also started positively,” explained Bunder.
In March, the volume of industrial production increased in more than half of manufacturing activities. Looking at the larger industries, there was an increase in output in the manufacture of electrical equipment (15.5%), fabricated metal products (6.9%) and rubber and plastic products (8.2%). There was also a marginal rise in the manufacture of food products (0.4%). Among the major industries, output decreased in the manufacture of wood (3.9%) and computers and electronic products (2%).
In March 2025, 67.3% of the total production of manufacturing was sold to the external market.
Compared with March 2024, the sales of manufacturing production increased by 3.4% at current prices according to working-day adjusted data. Domestic sales grew by 5.4% and export sales by 2.3%.
In March compared with February, the seasonally adjusted total industrial production declined by 1.3% and the production of manufacturing was virtually unchanged, rising by just 0.1%.
In energy production, the volume of electricity production (in megawatt-hours) increased by 28.9%, while the production of heat decreased by 4.5% in March.
Volume index of industrial production – an index that expresses the change in the volume of industrial production at constant prices compared with the base period. The producer price index is used for calculating the production values at constant prices.
Value index of industrial sales – an index that expresses the change in the value of sold industrial production at current prices compared with the base period.
Industry is the largest sector of the economy and an important driver of economic growth. The index of industrial production covers the economic indicators of three industrial activities: mining, energy production, and manufacturing.
Statistics Estonia performs the statistical activity “Production indices” for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications with the aim to determine the economic situation in Estonia.
Information about various industrial activities can be found on the business dashboards.
See also the dedicated section on industry and the map application. More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)