According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2008 compared to April of the previous year the industrial production decreased 0.2%, but compared to March the production increased.
In comparison with April of the previous year, the industrial production decreased 0.2% due to the decrease in energy production. In April 2008 compared to April of the previous year, the production of electricity decreased 16%, the production of heat 11%. The decrease in electricity production was caused by partly replacement of own production with imports. In April about 25% of consumed electricity was imported.
Compared to April of the previous year, the production in manufacturing rose 3%. The growth was mainly influenced by export oriented branches: production of metal products, chemicals and electrical machinery. The share of exports in the manufacturing of chemicals and electrical machinery was over 80%. The value index of industrial export sales in total manufacturing increased 22%, the value index of industrial domestic sales only 2%. The share of exports in the total manufacturing has been growing continuously and exceeds 60%.
The production for domestic market suppressed the increase mainly in the production of food and building materials. The decline in the manufacturing of food is continually affected by a fast price increase and by the decrease in consumption resulting from it. In April the prices rose about 19% compared to April of the previous year, in the manufacturing of milk products the increase was 33%. Nevertheless the producer price of manufacturing of milk products showed a declining trend compared to March. Compared to April of the previous year, the production of building materials fell 15% due to a slowdown in construction activities. The downward trend continued in the manufacturing of wood, the production of furniture also decreased.
The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 1998 – April 2008 (2000 = 100)
Change in volume index of industrial production, April 2008 (percentage)
| Economic activity | Change compared to previous month according to seasonally adjusted dataa |
Change compared to corresponding month of previous year |
|
| according to unadjusted data |
according to working-day adjusted datab |
||
| TOTAL | 4.5 | 5.0 | -0.2 |
| Energy production | 11.8 | -14.5 | -14.5 |
| Mining | 0.7 | -5.9 | -11.1 |
| Manufacturing | 4.4 | 8.5 | 2.8 |
| manufacture of food products and beverages | -0.7 | -2.1 | -5.6 |
| manufacture of wood and wood products | 4.0 | -8.1 | -13.1 |
| manufacture of fabricated metal products | 15.1 | 54.8 | 44.1 |
| manufacture of electrical machinery | 1.7 | 25.1 | 16.8 |
| manufacture of building materials | 3.9 | -11.8 | -15.3 |
| manufacture of chemicals and chemical products | 1.3 | 13.6 | 8.7 |
| manufacture of furniture; manufacturing not elsewhere classified |
3.0 | -5.4 | -11.9 |
| manufacture of radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus |
34.2 | 12.6 | 7.7 |
| manufacture of textiles | 0.9 | 2.5 | -3.2 |
a In case of the seasonally adjusted volume index, the impact of the differing numbers of working days in a month and seasonally recurring factors has been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the previous period.
b In case of the working-day adjusted volume index, the impact of the differing number of working days in a month has been eliminated. It is calculated only in comparison with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Source: Statistics Estonia
Filed under: Industry |
Brilliant Fixer reports on the Estonian economy 
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