The decrease in industrial production deepened in April

According to Statistics Estonia, in April 2009 compared to April of the previous year, the production of industrial enterprises decreased 34%.

The rapid decrease in industrial production, which had begun at the end of the previous year, continued in April. When in December 2008 the decrease in production was 22% compared to the respective month of the previous year, then in January 2009 the production decreased 26%, in February and March 30%, and in April 34%.

The production in manufacturing fell 36% compared to April of the previous year, which took the production back to the level of 2003. The main reason causing the decline in production was the insufficient demand both in domestic and external markets. The sales in external market fell 40% compared to the April of the previous year, the sales in domestic market decreased 30%.

The production decreased in all branches of manufacturing. Compared to April of the previous year, the manufacture of chemical and metal products, metals, building materials and paper products decreased more than a half. The manufacture of wearing apparel, wood and plastic products, electronic products and electrical equipment, motor vehicles and other manufacturing fell more than 30%. The decline was the smallest (9%) in the branch holding the largest share, i.e. the production of food products, which is predominantly oriented to the internal market consumption.

In April compared to April of the previous year, the production of electricity decreased 20%. At the same time imports of electricity increased 60%. Most of the electricity was imported from Lithuania and Latvia. The consumption of electricity fell 6% due to the decline in business customers’ demand. The production of heat decreased 6%.

In April compared to March, industrial production decreased 3% according to the seasonally adjusted data.

The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing, January 2000 – April 2009
(2005 = 100)

Change in volume index of industrial production, April 2009
(percentages)

Economic activity	Change compared to previous month according to seasonally adjusted data^a	Change compared to corresponding month of previous year
Economic activity		according to unadjusted data	according to working-day adjusted data^b
TOTAL	-2.9	-35.5	-33.7
Energy production	-7.7	-14.8	-14.8
Mining	3.7	-12.3	-10.2
Manufacturing	-3.0	-37.4	-35.6
manufacture of food products	-0.3	-11.0	-9.4
manufacture of wood and wood products	7.2	-35.0	-33.1
manufacture of fabricated metal products	-17.0	-54.6	-52.8
manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products	-7.2	-33.6	-32.3
manufacture of electrical equipment	-0.3	-36.1	-33.7
manufacture of chemicals and chemical products	10.1	-57.4	-56.0
manufacture of furniture	7.7	-18.7	-15.9
repair and installation of machinery and equipment	20.8	-22.4	-20.5
manufacture of building materials	3.0	-57.0	-56.0
manufacture of textiles	0.5	-24.1	-21.0

^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 month.
^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 month of the previous year.

For further information:

Lilian Bõkova
Leading Statistician
Industry, Construction and Energy Statistics Service
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9228

More detailed data have been published in the Statistical Database.

Since 2009 Statistics Estonia publishes the data on industrial production and energy according to the classification EMTAK 2008 (NACE Rev. 2). The years 2000–2008 have also been recalculated according to it. Further information: Statistics > Metadata > Classifications > Transition to EMTAK 2008 (NACE Rev. 2)