In April the rapid growth of industrial production continued

News
Posted on 31 May 2011, 11:00

According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2011 the production of industrial enterprises grew 32% compared to April of the previous year. The production showed a 30% growth for the eighth month in succession compared to the same month of the previous year.

The growth of production has been mainly influenced by the increase in external demand as previously, but the domestic demand also increased compared to April of the previous year.

In April 2011, the production of manufacturing increased 38% compared to April 2010. Export sales of the manufacturing production grew significantly (62%). About three quarters (73%) of the whole production of manufacturing was sold on the external market. The demand on the domestic market was continually lower – the domestic sales increased 17% compared to April of the previous year.

In April, the production exceeded the volume of the same month of the previous year in most branches of industry. The manufacturing of electronic products increased by more than four times compared to April of the previous year. This branch accounted for a quarter of the total production in manufacturing. The branches holding bigger shares were also the manufacturing of wood and metal products where the production grew 13% and 10%, respectively. With respect to the branches of manufacturing holding smaller shares, the production increased considerably in the manufacturing of machinery and equipment mainly due to the increase in exports.

In April 2011 compared to March, the seasonally adjusted industrial production as well as manufacturing remained on the same level.

In April 2011 compared to April 2010, the production of electricity increased 5% and the production of heat decreased 1%.

The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 2002 – April 2011
(2005 = 100)

Diagram: The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 2002 – April 2011

Change in volume index of industrial production, April 2011 (percentages)
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 0.0 28.4 31.8
Energy production 0.4 2.7 2.7
Mining -4.8 5.4 5.4
Manufacturing -0.1 33.9 37.8
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products 5.1 311.8 324.8
manufacture of wood and wood products -3.7 10.1 12.8
manufacture of food products 0.8 -1.5 0.1
manufacture of fabricated metal products 0.0 6.1 9.9
manufacture of electrical equipment -2.5 28.5 28.5
manufacture of chemicals and chemical products -4.4 22.0 25.9
manufacture of motor vehicles -1.1 28.8 32.1
manufacture of machinery and equipment 9.2 61.0 66.9
manufacture of rubber and plastic products 1.0 0.1 4.1
manufacture of building materials -3.6 -0.8 1.9

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.