In October, the volume of industrial production decreased

News
Posted on 1 December 2015, 10:00
According to Statistics Estonia, in October 2015, the production of industrial enterprises decreased 2% compared to October of the previous year. Production decreased in manufacturing, energy and mining.

While in the beginning of 2015, manufacturing production grew compared to the same month of the previous year, in the second half-year, the growth turned into decline. In August, production fell 2%, in September it fell 4%, and in October 0.2% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year. In October, the decline in production volume was caused primarily by a decrease in the manufacture of electronic and metal products, chemicals, and building materials. The 25% decrease in the manufacture of electronic products was caused by the high reference base of October 2014. In October, more than half of the branches of industry did not surpass the volume of the previous year. Although in some of the branches of industry that hold larger shares (the manufacture of wood products, electrical equipment, furniture and motor vehicles) production rose, it did not compensate for the fall in other branches.

69% of the whole production of manufacturing was sold on the external market in October. Compared to October 2014, the export sales of manufacturing production decreased 8% and domestic sales decreased 6%, according to unadjusted data.

In October 2015 compared to September 2015, the seasonally adjusted total industrial production rose by 1%, the volume of manufacturing production increased 4% compared to the previous month.

Compared to October 2014, the production of electricity decreased by 21% and the production of heat by 4%.

Diagram: Volume index of production in manufacturing and its trend

Change in volume index of industrial production, October 2015 (per cent)
Economic activity 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 0.9 -4.6 -2.1
Energy production -6.0 -14.9 -13.7
Mining -2.7 -9.7 -7.9
Manufacturing 3.7 -3.0 -0.2
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products -7.2 -27.4 -25.3
manufacture of wood and wood products 1.5 6.8 9.3
manufacture of food products 2.3 -0.6 0.8
manufacture of fabricated metal products -2.6 -9.7 -6.4
manufacture of electrical equipment 2.7 5.6 9.6
manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 10.9 -13.8 -11.1
manufacture of furniture 1.0 5.4 9.3
manufacture of motor vehicles 15.8 15.3 18.3
manufacture of building materials -7.5 -12.6 -10.4
manufacture of machinery and equipment 4.5 10.2 14.0

a In the case of the seasonally adjusted volume index of industrial production, the impact of the differing number of working days in a month and seasonally recurring factors have been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the previous period.
b In the case of the working-day adjusted volume index of industrial production, 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.

The statistics are based on the questionnaires “Industry”, the submission date of which was 15.11.2015, and “Energy production, sales and fuel consumption”, the submission date of which was 10.11.2015. Statistics Estonia published the monthly overview in eleven working days.