28 February 2019

2019- n° 54

In December 2018, the turnover in the manufacturing industry recovered (+0.6%) Turnover in industry and construction - December 2018

In December 2018, the turnover recovered in the manufacturing industry (+0.6%) after a sharp decline in November (−2.3%). It also rose in industry as a whole (+0.6% after -2.0%).

Export turnover also rebounded (+1.1% after -3.4% in November).

Over the last quarter of 2018, the turnover in the manufacturing industry increased compared to the previous quarter (+1.3%) as in industry as a whole (+1.4%). Within manufacturing, the turnover grew in “other manufacturing” (+2.3%), in the manufacture of food products and beverages (+1.7%), in the manufacture of transport equipment (+1.3%) and in the machinery and equipment goods (+0.4%). It declined markedly in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (−5.1%).

The turnover over the last three months grew sharply compared to the same three months of the previous year in the manufacturing industry (+2.5%). It grew more strongly in industry as a whole (+3.6%) due to the strong increase in the manufacture of mining and quarrying and energy and water supply and waste management (+8.9%). Over the last quarter, the turnover grew in most manufacturing industries: “other manufacturing” (+3.0%), the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+9.6%), the manufacture of food products and beverages (+2.0%), the machinery and equipment goods (+1.5%). It grew more moderatly in the manufacture of transport equipment (+0.4%).

The turnover in “other manufacturing” rebounded in December (+1.4% after −1.6%). The rebound was endorsed mainly by the manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations (+20.5% after −5.6%) and to a lesser extent by the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (+1.3% after −2.4%), the manufacture of rubber and plastics products and other non−metallic mineral products (−0.7% after −0.9%). On the contrary, the turnover decreased again in the manufacture of wood and paper products; printing and reproduction of recorded media (−0.4% after −1.1%), in the manufacture of textiles, wearing apparel, leather and related products (−1.3% after −1.3 %), in the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment (−0.9% after −1.8%). It fell back in other manufacturing, repair and installation of machinery equipment (−1.4% after +0.6%).

Export sales in “other manufacturing” bouced backin December (+2.8% after −3.0%).

The turnover in the manufacture of food products and beverages recovered in December (+0.5% after −0.9%). Export sales continued to decrease (−0.3% after −1.1%).

In December, the turnover in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products rebounded (+0.8% after −3.0%.).

In December, the turnover in the manufacture of transport equipment went down slightly (−0.2% after −6.4%). It decreased in the manufacture of other transport equipment (−0.2% after −7.3%) and was virtually stable in the manufacture of motor vehicles (−0.1% after −5.3%).

The turnover in the manufacture of transport equipment also declined in export sales (−0.6% after −6.5%).

In December, the turnover in machinery and equipment decreased again (−1.3% after −0.8% in November). It declined sharply in the manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (−3.0% after −1.2%) and was virtually stable in the manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (−0.1% after +0.2%), whereas it recovered in the manufacture of electrical equipment (+0.3% after −1.4%).

Export sales went down sharply in machinery and equipment (−2.2% after −0.6%).

The variation of the turnover index in December 2018 has been reestimated at −2.3% instead of −2.2% for the manufacturing industry, and at −2.0% instead of −1.9% in industry as a whole.