IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH DATA ECOSYSTEMS

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown regulations since 27 March 2020 have had an extensive impact on economic activity.

Manufacturing production decreased by 49,4% in April 2020 compared with April 2019. The largest contributions were made by the following divisions:

·         basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-65,4% and contributing
-13,2 percentage points);

·         petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-41,5% and contributing -9,5 percentage points);

·         motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-98,0% and contributing -7,8 percentage points);

·         food and beverages (-19,4% and contributing -5,4 percentage points); and

·         wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-49,2% and contributing -4,9 percentage points).

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 44,3% in April 2020 compared with March 2020. This followed month-on-month changes of -1,2% in March 2020 and -2,7% in February 2020.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 16,9% in the three months ended April 2020 compared with the previous three months. All ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

The largest negative contributions were made by the following divisions:

·         petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-17,4% and contributing -4,1 percentage points);

·         basic iron and steel, non-ferrous metal products, metal products and machinery (-22,0% and contributing
-4,1 percentage points);

·         food and beverages (-8,2% and contributing -2,4 percentage points);

·         motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-27,2% and contributing -1,9 percentage points); and

·         wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-15,0% and contributing -1,6 percentage points).