31 January 2018

2018- n° 28

In November 2017, the turnover in the manufacturing industry fell back slightly (−0.4%) Turnover in industry and construction - November 2017

In November 2017, the turnover fell back slightly in the manufacturing industry (−0.4%) after a strong progress in October (+2.2%). It fell back more sharply in exports (−1.7% after +3.2%).

In industry as a whole, the turnover also declined slightly in november (−0.3% after +1.7% in October).

Despite the slight decrease in November, the turnover rose sharply over the last three months in the manufacturing industry (+2.6%) as well as in industry as a whole (+2.6%). Within manufacturing, the turnover grew sharply in the manufacture of transport equipment (+7.0%) and in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+9.4%). It rose also, but to a lesser extent in “other manufacturing” (+1.4%), in the machinery and equipment goods (+2.2%) and in the manufacture of food products and beverages (+0.5%).

The turnover grew sharply compared to the same three months of the previous year in the manufacturing industry (+7.1%). The growth was even more marked in industry as a whole (+7.9%) due to the strong increase in the mining and quarrying, energy, water supply, waste management (+11.4%). Over this period, the turnover rose sharply in every main sectors of the manufacturing industry − “other manufacturing” (+6.6%), the manufacture of transport equipment (+11.4%), the manufacture of food products and beverages (+3.7%), the machinery and equipment sector (+6.0%) and the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+14.9%).

The turnover in the manufacture of transport equipment fell back sharply in November (−3.3% after +4.6% in October). This decrease was mainly due to the strong downturn in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (−5.8% after +8.6%). The other transport equipment also slipped back but to a lesser extent (−0.9% after +1.2%). The turnover also fell back in export sales (−2.4% after +3.6%).

In November, the turnover in machinery and equipment edged down (−0.2% after +1.5% in October). It fell back in the manufacture of electrical equipment (−1.7 % after +1.3%), and in the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (−0.4% after +1.4%). Conversely, it rose again in the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (+2.2% after +2.1%). Export sales in machinery and equipment fell back (−0.4% after +2.0%).

The turnover in the manufacture of food products and beverages was virtually stable in November after an increase of 1.2% in October. It fell back in export sales (−1.0% after +1.9%).

The turnover in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products rose again in November (+2.5% after +2.1% in October).

The turnover in “other manufacturing” rose slightly in November (+0.3% after +2.0% in October). It rose again in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (+1.7% after +2.2%), in the manufacture of textiles, wearing apparel, leather and related products (+3.2% after +1.2%) and in the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipement (+0.6% after +1.9%). Conversely, it fell back in the other manufacturing; repair and installation of machinery and equipment (−0.9% after +3.4%), in the manufacture of wood and paper products (−1.1% after +1.3%) and in the manufacture of rubber and plastic products (−0.2% after +2.1%). The turnover decreased again in the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (−0.7% after −0.3%). In export sales, the turnover fell back sharply in “other manufacturing” (−2.1% after +3.8%).

The variation of the turnover index in October 2017 has been lowered by 0.1 points in the manufacturing industry, at +2.2% instead of 2.3%.

It is unchanged in industry as a whole, at +1.7%.