IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Manufacturing production increased by 0,3% in March 2017 compared with March 2016. This increase was mainly due to higher production in the following divisions:

• basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (6,0% and contributing 1,1 percentage points);
• glass and non-metallic mineral products (10,5% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point); and
• motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (5,8% and contributing 0,4 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions in March 2017 compared with March 2016:

• petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-5,3% and contributing -1,3 percentage points);
• wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-2,0% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and
• electrical machinery (-10,2% and contributing -0,2 of a percentage point).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 0,6% in March 2017 compared with February 2017. This followed month-on-month changes of -0,3% in February 2017 and -0,7% in January 2017.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 0,9% in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the fourth quarter of 2016. Seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

The petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division (-2,7% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point) was the largest contributor to the 0,9% decrease.