Industrial production fell to the level of a decade ago
In April, the total production in manufacturing decreased by 15% year on year. Most manufacturing activities experienced a decline, with major falls in the manufacture of furniture (-40%), computers and electronic products (-27%) and building materials (-25%). Production increased in three manufacturing activities: manufacture of chemical products, pharmaceutical products and electrical equipment. In addition, production grew in quarrying of stone.
According to Helle Bunder, analyst at Statistics Estonia, the coronavirus-related emergency situation had a significant impact on industrial production in April. “Compared to March, many industrial activities show a stronger downward trend, affecting more areas. The last time industrial production recorded such significant falls was in 2009,” said Bunder.
64% of the total production of manufacturing was sold to the external market. The shares of sales for export were largest in the manufacture of electronic products and in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products. According to unadjusted data, the sales of manufacturing production for export decreased by 23% and sales to the domestic market by 9% year on year.
In April, compared to March, both the seasonally adjusted total industrial production and the production of manufacturing fell by 8%.
In energy production, the production of electricity decreased by 53%, while the production of heat increased by 3% compared to April 2019.
| Economic activity | Change on previous month according to seasonally adjusted data* | Change on same month of previous year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| according to unadjusted data | according to working-day adjusted data** | ||
| TOTAL | -8.4 | -16.9 | -16.9 |
| Energy production | -3.6 | -35.1 | -35.1 |
| Mining | -14.8 | -37.1 | -37.1 |
| Manufacturing | -8.4 | -15.0 | -15.0 |
| manufacture of wood and wood products | -1.8 | -4.5 | -4.5 |
| manufacture of food products | -6.1 | -8.1 | -8.1 |
| manufacture of computers, electronic and optical products | -19.6 | -26.7 | -26.7 |
| manufacture of fabricated metal products | -3.3 | -5.8 | -5.8 |
| manufacture of electrical equipment | -2.1 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| manufacture of furniture | -26.9 | -39.7 | -39.7 |
| manufacture of motor vehicles | -39.1 | -52.7 | -52.7 |
| manufacture of building materials | -13.1 | -25.2 | -25.2 |
| manufacture of machinery and equipment | -5.2 | -14.2 | -14.2 |
| manufacture of chemical products | 6.2 | 26.4 | 26.4 |
* The impact of different number of working days in a month and seasonally recurring factors has been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the previous period.
** The impact of different number of working days in a month has been eliminated. It is calculated only in year-on-year comparisons.
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.