IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Key findings regarding manufacturing production and sales for the year 2008

Manufacturing production records lowest annual growth in 5 years

Manufacturing production for 2008 reflected an increase of 1,0% compared with 2007, lower than the 4,1% annual growth reported in 2007. Higher production was reported by seven of the ten manufacturing divisions in 2008.

The major contributor to the annual increase of 1,0% was the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (contributing 1,6 percentage points), followed by the food and beverages division (contributing 0,6 of a percentage point), the electrical machinery division (contributing 0,3 of a percentage point) and the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division (contributing 0,2 of a percentage point). However, these increases were partially counteracted by decreases reported by the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (contributing -1,1 percentage points) and the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (contributing -0,5 of a percentage point).

Key findings regarding manufacturing production for December 2008

Manufacturing production decreased sharply

Manufacturing production decreased by 4,0% month-on-month (seasonally adjusted) in December 2008, reaching the lowest seasonally adjusted level since November 2005. The biggest contributors to this 4,0% decrease were the basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery division (-1,8 percentage points), the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (-1,2 percentage points) and the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (-1,2 percentage points).

The estimated seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased by 5,8% compared with the third quarter of 2008. Lower production levels were reported by eight of the ten manufacturing divisions. The decrease was driven mainly by lower production in three divisions, namely basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (contributing -2,6 percentage points), petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (contributing -1,5 percentage points) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (contributing -1,3 percentage points) divisions.