Production: results for August 2021

Manufacturing production increased by 1,8% in August 2021 compared with August 2020. The largest positive contributions were made by the following divisions:

·        food and beverages (9,7% and contributing 2,3 percentage points);

·        motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (17,7% and contributing 1,4 percentage points);

·        basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (7,6% and contributing 1,4 percentage points);

·        wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (12,5% and contributing 1,2 percentage points); and

·        furniture and ‘other’ manufacturing (19,8% and contributing 0,8 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contribution was made by the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (-21,8% and contributing -5,6 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 7,6% in August 2021 compared with July 2021. This followed month-on-month changes of -8,4% in July 2021 and -0,5% in June 2021.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 6,3% in the three months ended August 2021 compared with the previous three months. Nine of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions:

·        food and beverages (-7,7% and contributing -1,9 percentage points);

·        motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-15,9% and contributing -1,7 percentage points); and

·        petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-7,4% and contributing -1,5 percentage points).

Sales: results for August 2021