7 September 2018

2018- n° 235

In July 2018, manufacturing output kept the momentum (+0.5%) Industrial production index - July 2018

In July 2018, output kept growing in the manufacturing industry (+0.5% after +0.7% in June) as well as in the whole industry (+0.7% after +0.7%).

Manufacturing output grew over the last three months (+0.5%). It was virtually stable in the overall industry.

Over the last three months, output soared in the manufacture of transport equipment (+4.0%). It was almost stable in “other manufacturing”. Conversely, it diminshed sharply in mining and quarrying, energy, water supply (−2.3%) and in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (−3.9%), and more slightly in the manufacture of food products and beverages (−0.3%) and in the manufacture of machinery and equipment goods (−0.2%).

Manufacturing output of the last three months increased again compared to the same three months of 2017 (+1.1%), as well as in the whole industry (+1.0%).

Over a year, output soared in the manufacture of transport equipment (+5.1%). To a lesser extent, it also grew in “other manufacturing” (+0.9%), in the manufacture of machinery and equipment goods (+0.9%) and in mining and quarrying, energy, water supply (+0.4%). Conversely, output dropped in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (−12.6%) and it went down in the manufacture of food products and beverages (−1.0%).

Output accelerated in the manufacture of other transport equipment (+4.5% after +2.3%) and in that of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (+2.3% after +1.4%).

Output went up mainly in electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply (+1.9% after +0.8%).

Output bounced back in the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+4.4% after –0.3%) and in that of computer, electronic and optical products (+1.9% after -3.8%). On the contrary, it slipped back in the manufacture of electrical equipment (–1.0% after +0.7%).

Output in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products came back to normal after maintenances during previous months.

Output decreased further in chemicals (−3.6% after −1.1%). It slipped back in the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products (−0.6% after +0.9%), in that of wood, paper and printing industries (−1.9% after +1.3%) and in that of rubber and plastics products, and other non-metallic mineral products (−0.2% after +1.3%). Conversely, it grew again in pharmaceuticals (+2.5% after +1.9%), in textiles, wearing apparel, leather and related products (+2.7% after +0.4%) and in other manufacturing, repair and installation of machinery and equipment (+0.2% after +0.9%).

Output went down again in the manufacture of food products and beverages, in particular in the manufacture of beverages and in that of prepared animal feeds.