The utilisation of production capacity by large manufacturers was 78,0% in August 2021 compared with 71,7% in August 2020, an increase of 6,3 percentage points.

Nine of the ten manufacturing divisions showed increases in utilisation of production capacity in August 2021 compared with August 2020. The largest increases were recorded in the following divisions:

• electrical machinery (16,3 percentage points);
• wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (12,7 percentage points);
• radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment (12,6 percentage points);
• textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (11,8 percentage points); and
• food and beverages (9,3 percentage points).

Rates of utilisation of production capacity higher than 80% were reported in the following divisions in August 2021:

• furniture and ‘other’ manufacturing products (82,7%);
• food and beverages (82,6%);
• wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (82,4%); and
• radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment (81,8%).