31 May 2017

2017- n° 147

In March 2017, the turnover rose sharply in the manufacturing industry (+3.1%) Turnover in industry and construction - March 2017

In March 2017, the turnover rose sharply again in the manufacturing industry (+3.1% after +2.1%). The increase was even more marked in export sales (+4.9% after +1.5%).

In industry as a whole, the turnover also still increased (+2.2% after +2.4%).

Over the first quarter, the turnover grew significantly in the manufacturing industry (+1.1%) and in industry as a whole (+1.8%). It rose in most sectors of the manufacturing industry: “other manufacturing” (+0.9%), manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+6.9%) buoyed by a fuel price increase, manufacture of food products and beverages (+0.9%) and machinery and equipment goods (+1.7%). Conversely, it fell back in the manufacture of transport equipment (−2.2%).

The turnover rose strongly compared with the first quarter of the previous year in the manufacturing industry (+5.5%). The growth was even sharper in industry as a whole (+7.4%), thanks to a strong increase in the mining and quarrying, energy, water supply, waste management sector (+16.2%). Over one year, the turnover rose in every main sector of the manufacturing industry, be it in the manufacture of transport equipment (+11.2%), “other manufacturing” (+3.5%), the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (+30.3%), the manufacture of food products and beverages (+2.7%) or the machinery and equipment industry (+2.6%).

In March, the turnover in the manufacture of transport equipment rose again sharply (+10.7% after +8.7% in February). This strong increase was driven mainly by the the manufacture of other transport equipment (+18.3% after +17.0%). The turnover in the manufacture of motor vehicles rose more moderatly (+1.6% after +0.2%). The increase in the manufacture of other transport equipment was particularly marked for export sales (+15.2% after +5.7%).

The turnover in “other manufacturing” grew again in March (+2.6% after +1.0% in February). It rose again in the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products (+4.7%), in the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products (+4.3%), and in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, and other non-metallic mineral products (+2.3%). It rebounded in “other manufacturing” (+2.6% after −0.5%). Conversely, it slumped in pharmaceuticals (−5.0% after −0.2%). In “other manufacturing”, the export sales rose again (+1.6% after +1.1% ).

The turnover in machinery and equipment bounced back in March (+2.0% after −0.8%) as a result of a rebound in all subsectors: manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. (+2.2% after −0.1%), manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products (+2.6% after −1.2%) and manufacture of electrical equipment (+0.8% after −1.4%). Export sales recovered as well for the whole machinery and equipment sector (+1.1% after −0.4%).

In March, the turnover fell back in the manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products (−2.4% after +3.1% in February).

In March, the turnover fell back slightly in the manufacture of food products and beverages (−0.2% after +0.9%). However, export sales bounced back (+1.0% after −2.5%).

In the manufacturing industry, the variation in turnover in February 2017 has been raised by 0.4 points, to +2.1% instead of +1.7% mainly due to the updating of SA-WDA parameters. It has been lowered by 0.4 points in industry as a whole, to +2.4% instead of +2.8% above all because of the revision in the raw series.

Sources: DGFiP, INSEE