IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

Manufacturing production decreased by 2,1% in February 2021 compared with February 2020. The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions:

·        petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-8,4% and contributing -1,8 percentage points);

·        basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-4,8% and contributing -0,9 of a percentage point); and

·        furniture and ‘other’ manufacturing (-17,0% and contributing -0,6 of a percentage point).

The motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division (13,2% and contributing 1,2 percentage points) was a significant positive contributor.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 1,2% in February 2021 compared with January 2021. This followed month-on-month changes of 0,0% in January 2021 and 0,5% in December 2020.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0,3% in the three months ended February 2021 compared with the previous three months. Seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported positive growth rates over this period.

The largest positive contributions were made by the following divisions:

·        motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (12,3% and contributing 1,0 percentage point);

·        basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (3,1% and contributing 0,6 of a percentage point); and

·        wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (3,1% and contributing 0,3 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions:

·        petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-6,5% and contributing -1,4 percentage points); and

·        food and beverages (-1,5% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point).