Industrial production decreased in April
According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2012, the production of industrial enterprises decreased by 4% compared to the same month of the previous year. The decline in the production was mostly influenced by the manufacturing of electronic and metal products.
A small growth which took place at the beginning of 2012 in manufacturing was replaced with a decline – in March and April the production of manufacturing decreased by 4% in both months compared to the same month of the previous year. The main reason for the decline was the high comparison basis in the manufacturing of electronic products – this effect will last during the 2nd quarter as well. The reduction of demand on the external market also influenced the manufacturing negatively – the export sales decreased 6% compared to April of the previous year. The domestic sales did not change significantly.
In April, the production did not exceed the volume of the same month of the previous year in most branches of industry. Among the branches of industry holding larger shares, the production in the manufacture of electronic, metal and wood products fell by 24%, 7% and 2%, respectively. The production in the manufacture of food, electrical equipment and chemical products grew by 3%, 21% and 2%, respectively.
In April 2012 compared to March 2012, the seasonally adjusted total industrial production increased by 1%, in manufacturing the production fell 1%.
Compared to April 2011, the production of electricity decreased by 2% and the production of heat increased by 3%.
The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 2003 – April 2012 (2005 = 100)
| 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 | 1.3 | -4.0 | -4.0 |
| Energy production | 21.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Mining | -4.5 | -4.4 | -4.4 |
| Manufacturing | -0.8 | -4.4 | -4.4 |
| manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | 6.3 | -23.7 | -23.7 |
| manufacture of wood and wood products | -9.1 | -2.1 | -2.1 |
| manufacture of food products | 1.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| manufacture of fabricated metal products | 6.9 | -6.8 | -6.8 |
| manufacture of electrical equipment | 6.4 | 20.8 | 20.8 |
| manufacture of chemicals and chemical products | 7.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| manufacture of motor vehicles | 0.4 | -2.7 | -2.7 |
| manufacture of machinery and equipment | -3.3 | -0.2 | -0.2 |
| manufacture of furniture | -6.9 | -1.2 | -1.1 |
| manufacture of building materials | -1.3 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
aIn 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.
bIn 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.