Industrial production increased in March
According to Statistics Estonia, in March 2010 the production of industrial enterprises rose 12% compared to March of the previous year.
In March 2010 the production in manufacturing increased 11% compared to March of the previous year. When in total of 2009 compared to the previous year, the production decreased in all branches of manufacturing, then in January 2010 some branches showed recovery marks. In February and March a considerable growth could be observed in more than half of branches. When in March the export sales in manufacturing increased 23%, then the domestic sales fell 6% compared to March of the previous year. The rapid increase in production was partly affected by the low reference base in 2009, while at the beginning of 2009 the production was the lowest. In March 2010, among the branches holding bigger share, the production increased in manufacturing of electronic products (89%) and in manufacturing of wood (21%). The production increased considerably also in some smaller branches, as the manufacturing of motor vehicles, metals, refined petroleum, chemical and plastic products and building materials, mainly due to the increase of exports. The production of wearing apparel and leather decreased more than a fifth. Less than 10% was the decrease in manufacture of paper, metal products, machinery and equipment and in repair and installation of machinery and equipment. The main reason causing the decline was insufficient domestic demand.
In March 2010 compared to February, the seasonally adjusted industrial production increased 4%, the production of manufacturing rose 3%.
In March 2010 compared to March 2009, the production of electricity increased 31%, the production of heat — 5%. The increase in energy production was caused mostly by the increase in exports, as well as by a rising demand for energy induced from active manufacturing.
The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 2000 – March 2010 (2005 = 100)
| Economic activity | March 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| change compared to the previous month according to seasonally adjusted dataa | change compared to the corresponding month of the previous year | ||
| according to unadjusted data | according to working-day adjusted datab | ||
| TOTAL | 3.8 | 14.7 | 11.6 |
| Energy production | 2.8 | 19.8 | 19.8 |
| Mining | 7.1 | 6.3 | 4.6 |
| Manufacturing | 3.2 | 14.7 | 11.4 |
| manufacture of food products | 0.3 | 3.2 | 1.4 |
| manufacture of beverages | 7.0 | 2.7 | -0.3 |
| manufacture of wood and wood products | -1.1 | 24.5 | 21.4 |
| manufacture of fabricated metal products | 26.0 | -1.4 | -5.2 |
| manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | 3.4 | 95.2 | 89.3 |
| manufacture of electrical equipment | -7.1 | 9.3 | 5.4 |
| manufacture of chemicals and chemical products | 5.5 | 24.3 | 20.4 |
| manufacture of furniture | -5.2 | 7.2 | 3.4 |
| manufacture of rubber and plastic products | 4.4 | 33.2 | 27.9 |
| manufacture of building materials | -9.1 | 16.3 | 12.2 |
a In case of the seasonally adjusted volume index, the impact of the differing numbers of working days in a month and seasonally recurring factors has been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the previous period.
b In case of the working-day adjusted volume index, the impact of the differing number of working days in a month has been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year.