The increase of industrial production continued in May
According to Statistics Estonia, in May 2010 the production of industrial enterprises grew 17% compared to May of the previous year.
The production in manufacturing increased by about a fifth compared to May of the previous year. The 2% growth in January 2010 was followed by a rapid increase — in March industrial enterprises produced 11% and in April 18% more production than during the corresponding months of 2009. In May the export sales in manufacturing increased significantly (46%). The demand on domestic market was still insufficient and the domestic sales fell 6% compared to May of the previous year. In May two thirds of the industrial production was sold on external market.
In May the production exceeded the level of the previous year in most branches. The growth in the production of manufacturing was most influenced by the branches holding bigger share — manufacturing of electronic products where the production increased by about one and a half times; and manufacturing of wood where the growth was 27%. The production increased considerably also in some smaller branches, as in the manufacturing of motor vehicles, metals, paper, plastic products, machinery and equipment and other transport equipment, mainly due to the increase of exports. The rapid growth in production was partly affected by the low reference base in 2009; this effect will last until the end of 2010. The production of food, beverages, wearing apparel and metal products and repair and installation of machinery and equipment decreased.
In May 2010 compared to April, the seasonally adjusted industrial production increased 2% in industry as a whole, as well as in the production of manufacturing.
In May 2010 compared to May 2009, the production of electricity increased 65%, the production of heat — 19%. The increase in energy production was mainly caused by a rising demand for energy induced by active manufacturing, as well as by growth of exports of electricity.
The volume index and trend of production in manufacturing,
January 2000 – May 2010 (2005 = 100)
| Economic activity | change compared to the previous month according to seasonally adjusted dataa | change compared to the corresponding month of the previous year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| according to unadjusted data | according to working- day adjusted datab | ||
| TOTAL | 2.3 | 20.3 | 17.1 |
| Energy production | 4.1 | 50.3 | 50.3 |
| Mining | -8.5 | -20.1 | -21.4 |
| Manufacturing | 2.4 | 22.2 | 18.8 |
| manufacture of food products | -4.1 | -4.0 | -5.5 |
| manufacture of beverages | 2.9 | -1.5 | -4.4 |
| manufacture of wood and wood products | 2.6 | 30.4 | 27.3 |
| manufacture of fabricated metal products | -4.0 | -2.5 | -6.0 |
| manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products | 6.2 | 156.1 | 148.5 |
| manufacture of electrical equipment | 5.7 | 4.9 | 1.2 |
| manufacture of chemicals and chemical products | -4.2 | 8.3 | 5.0 |
| manufacture of furniture | 1.5 | 21.5 | 15.2 |
| manufacture of rubber and plastic products | -3.6 | 34.8 | 29.5 |
| manufacture of building materials | -3.5 | 12.1 | 8.5 |
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.