Key findings: P3041.2 - Manufacturing: Production and sales, March 2009

Manufacturing production continues to decline

The estimated manufacturing production for March 2009 decreased by 11,7% compared with March 2008. The seasonally adjusted manufacturing production for the first quarter of 2009 decreased by 6,8% compared with the fourth quarter of 2008. Lower production levels were reported by nine of the ten manufacturing divisions during the first quarter of 2009. The decrease was driven mainly by lower production in two divisions, namely basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (contributing -2,0 percentage points) and motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (contributing -1,6 percentage points), followed by the wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing division, the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (each contributing -0,9 of a percentage point) and the furniture and