Informations rapides
23 July 2020
2020- n° 181
In July 2020, the production capacity utilisation rate in industry has partially recovered Quarterly business survey (goods-producing industries) - July 2020

In July 2020, the production capacity utilisation rate in industry has bounced back, offsetting slightly more than half of its April fall, while industrial activity has resumed progressively since the lockdown exit.

Informations rapides
No 181
Paru le :Paru le23/07/2020
Prochaine parution le : 24/07/2025 at 08:45 - July 2025
Warning

Companies' responses were collected between 29 June and 20 July 2020, both online and, for the first time since March, through paper forms. Therefore, the answer rate has further recovered from its April low point and is now nearing the usual rates prior to the health crisis.

Furthermore, for April and July data, the correction mode for non-response has been modified. Whereas the previous method was to carry on past answers from non-responding companies, we have been considering in April’s data update, and for July that non-responding units would have answered as their elementary stratum’s units average. This may cause significant downward revisions compared to the April 2020 publication.

The production capacity rate has partially recovered

In July 2020, the production capacity utilisation rate in industry has bounced back, offsetting slightly more than half of its April fall, while industrial activity has resumed progressively since the lockdown exit. The rate had fallen from 83% in January to 61% in April, its lowest level since the beginning of the series in 1976, and stands at 74% in July. The rally concerns all sub-sectors. In July as well as April, the production capacity utilisation rate is relatively higher in the agro-food industry (78% in July) and lower in the manufacture of transport equipment (69% in July after 41% in April).

Production capacity utilisation rate

Production capacity utilisation rate
Production capacity utilisation rate
1998-Q1 83.0
1998-Q2 83.3
1998-Q3 84.6
1998-Q4 83.3
1999-Q1 84.0
1999-Q2 83.0
1999-Q3 83.5
1999-Q4 84.3
2000-Q1 83.8
2000-Q2 85.0
2000-Q3 85.5
2000-Q4 86.1
2001-Q1 86.2
2001-Q2 85.8
2001-Q3 84.9
2001-Q4 84.2
2002-Q1 84.1
2002-Q2 85.0
2002-Q3 84.1
2002-Q4 83.3
2003-Q1 83.4
2003-Q2 82.7
2003-Q3 82.6
2003-Q4 82.2
2004-Q1 82.7
2004-Q2 82.6
2004-Q3 82.8
2004-Q4 82.9
2005-Q1 82.7
2005-Q2 82.6
2005-Q3 82.8
2005-Q4 82.4
2006-Q1 83.4
2006-Q2 84.2
2006-Q3 85.1
2006-Q4 85.6
2007-Q1 84.8
2007-Q2 85.9
2007-Q3 85.9
2007-Q4 86.7
2008-Q1 86.4
2008-Q2 85.5
2008-Q3 84.9
2008-Q4 83.2
2009-Q1 75.4
2009-Q2 72.2
2009-Q3 73.3
2009-Q4 75.4
2010-Q1 75.2
2010-Q2 77.5
2010-Q3 77.9
2010-Q4 79.5
2011-Q1 80.7
2011-Q2 82.6
2011-Q3 82.5
2011-Q4 82.6
2012-Q1 81.3
2012-Q2 81.4
2012-Q3 80.5
2012-Q4 80.4
2013-Q1 80.9
2013-Q2 80.4
2013-Q3 80.2
2013-Q4 80.4
2014-Q1 80.7
2014-Q2 80.5
2014-Q3 81.9
2014-Q4 80.8
2015-Q1 80.8
2015-Q2 82.3
2015-Q3 82.0
2015-Q4 82.3
2016-Q1 81.0
2016-Q2 82.3
2016-Q3 83.5
2016-Q4 83.0
2017-Q1 84.0
2017-Q2 83.8
2017-Q3 84.6
2017-Q4 84.6
2018-Q1 85.9
2018-Q2 85.3
2018-Q3 85.4
2018-Q4 85.1
2019-Q1 84.9
2019-Q2 84.6
2019-Q3 83.7
2019-Q4 83.1
2020-Q1 82.8
2020-Q2 60.5
2020-Q3 74.5

Production capacity utilisation rate

  • Source: INSEE

Outlook for demand has rebounded markedly after a sharp fall

In July 2020, the industrialists’ balance of opinion on variation in demand over the last three months, overall and abroad, have markedly deteriorated again, displaying the situation during lockdown. They have thus neared their lowest level reached in 2009. On the other hand, the balances of opinion on variation in demand prospects, overall and abroad, have bounced back markedly after reaching in April their lowest level over the series. The balance regarding general export prospects has also rebounded strongly after reaching its lowest level in April. It nevertheless stays below its pre-crisis level. Industrialists’ opinion on recent change in their competitive position, on domestic and global markets, remains very deteriorated.

Supply difficulties are receding to a large extent after a surge in April, but they are now in part replaced by difficulties of demand.

Opinion on global demand

Opinion on global demand
Past change Expected change
1998-Q1 26.6 14.4
1998-Q2 18.6 12.4
1998-Q3 18.0 11.9
1998-Q4 11.9 0.3
1999-Q1 4.5 -1.3
1999-Q2 -1.7 2.4
1999-Q3 13.2 11.9
1999-Q4 23.8 21.9
2000-Q1 30.3 15.1
2000-Q2 32.7 18.1
2000-Q3 28.6 20.4
2000-Q4 33.2 22.7
2001-Q1 11.9 15.3
2001-Q2 9.1 2.8
2001-Q3 -0.4 1.1
2001-Q4 -12.1 -13.3
2002-Q1 -23.8 -4.6
2002-Q2 -10.4 5.4
2002-Q3 -8.0 -1.8
2002-Q4 -19.2 -6.6
2003-Q1 -6.3 -1.6
2003-Q2 -22.0 -10.8
2003-Q3 -19.8 -7.8
2003-Q4 -9.1 1.4
2004-Q1 0.1 7.5
2004-Q2 10.0 9.1
2004-Q3 12.8 10.1
2004-Q4 8.5 14.4
2005-Q1 16.9 6.3
2005-Q2 -3.6 1.3
2005-Q3 2.0 5.5
2005-Q4 2.5 10.0
2006-Q1 14.8 7.4
2006-Q2 16.4 12.9
2006-Q3 13.1 9.4
2006-Q4 15.9 13.7
2007-Q1 13.2 10.6
2007-Q2 17.4 10.3
2007-Q3 23.1 14.6
2007-Q4 17.7 16.0
2008-Q1 16.5 13.8
2008-Q2 14.7 9.0
2008-Q3 -8.3 -13.1
2008-Q4 -21.7 -24.3
2009-Q1 -42.2 -36.4
2009-Q2 -53.1 -27.7
2009-Q3 -23.4 -11.8
2009-Q4 -12.0 -1.8
2010-Q1 9.4 -0.1
2010-Q2 6.3 2.1
2010-Q3 18.3 1.3
2010-Q4 17.3 10.9
2011-Q1 25.0 10.1
2011-Q2 20.8 8.6
2011-Q3 14.5 6.3
2011-Q4 0.7 -4.1
2012-Q1 -4.4 -7.4
2012-Q2 -2.7 3.4
2012-Q3 -16.0 -9.5
2012-Q4 -16.8 -7.5
2013-Q1 -15.5 -8.2
2013-Q2 -24.2 -4.3
2013-Q3 -10.5 -5.1
2013-Q4 -2.1 1.6
2014-Q1 2.7 2.7
2014-Q2 6.2 6.4
2014-Q3 -5.7 3.6
2014-Q4 -2.1 3.4
2015-Q1 -3.8 0.7
2015-Q2 4.1 6.5
2015-Q3 1.2 5.1
2015-Q4 5.4 6.8
2016-Q1 2.0 3.9
2016-Q2 12.9 7.7
2016-Q3 11.7 4.8
2016-Q4 4.5 7.4
2017-Q1 11.5 7.3
2017-Q2 10.4 8.9
2017-Q3 16.2 11.1
2017-Q4 18.8 17.1
2018-Q1 21.1 16.2
2018-Q2 17.6 13.8
2018-Q3 9.5 9.0
2018-Q4 -0.8 7.0
2019-Q1 1.7 11.1
2019-Q2 2.7 4.0
2019-Q3 -1.6 2.5
2019-Q4 3.4 -0.1
2020-Q1 -2.6 5.2
2020-Q2 -26.9 -64.6
2020-Q3 -44.9 12.5

Opinion on global demand

  • Source: INSEE

Industrialists’ opinion : demand and production factors

Balance of opinion, in % SA
Industrialists’ opinion : demand and production factors (Balance of opinion, in % SA)
Manufacturing industry Mean Oct. 19 Jan. 20 Apr. 20 Jul. 20
Overall demand
Past change 0 3 -3 -27 -45
Expected change 1 0 5 -65 13
Foreign demand
Past change 2 7 -4 -32 -57
Expected change 4 -4 6 -70 -1
Production factors
Production bottlenecks (in %) 23 30 37 29 27
Assessment of productive capacity 13 3 9 28 12
Production capacity utilisation rate (in %) 83 83 83 61 74
Difficulties of supply and demand (in %)
Difficulties of supply and demand 9 9 12 27 12
Difficulties of supply only 20 26 26 34 17
Difficulties of demand only 42 26 23 23 44
  • * : Long-term average since 1976, expect for supply and demand (since 1991).
  • The results of the latest survey are preliminary
  • Sources : INSEE – Quarterly business survey in industry

Employment prospects have picked up

From April to July, the balance of opinion on the expected change in workforce size has picked up.

Industrialists are much less pessimistic than in April regarding the likely change in cash-flow over the next three months. The share of firms declaring to be currently facing cash-flow difficulties has decreased.

Opinion on workforce size in the manufacturing industry

Opinion on workforce size in the manufacturing industry
Expected change Past change
1998-01 -6.5 -1.5
1998-02 NaN NaN
1998-03 NaN NaN
1998-04 -6.1 1.9
1998-05 NaN NaN
1998-06 NaN NaN
1998-07 -5.3 1.0
1998-08 NaN NaN
1998-09 NaN NaN
1998-10 -6.6 -1.7
1998-11 NaN NaN
1998-12 NaN NaN
1999-01 -7.2 -4.4
1999-02 NaN NaN
1999-03 NaN NaN
1999-04 -8.7 -7.5
1999-05 NaN NaN
1999-06 NaN NaN
1999-07 -5.6 -6.7
1999-08 NaN NaN
1999-09 NaN NaN
1999-10 1.6 7.1
1999-11 NaN NaN
1999-12 NaN NaN
2000-01 7.1 5.9
2000-02 NaN NaN
2000-03 NaN NaN
2000-04 6.1 6.4
2000-05 NaN NaN
2000-06 NaN NaN
2000-07 10.8 13.8
2000-08 NaN NaN
2000-09 NaN NaN
2000-10 13.0 15.6
2000-11 NaN NaN
2000-12 NaN NaN
2001-01 9.9 17.6
2001-02 NaN NaN
2001-03 NaN NaN
2001-04 6.2 9.6
2001-05 NaN NaN
2001-06 NaN NaN
2001-07 0.5 6.8
2001-08 NaN NaN
2001-09 NaN NaN
2001-10 -10.4 0.0
2001-11 NaN NaN
2001-12 NaN NaN
2002-01 -11.9 -8.6
2002-02 NaN NaN
2002-03 NaN NaN
2002-04 -8.1 -9.0
2002-05 NaN NaN
2002-06 NaN NaN
2002-07 -7.1 -9.6
2002-08 NaN NaN
2002-09 NaN NaN
2002-10 -13.4 -12.7
2002-11 NaN NaN
2002-12 NaN NaN
2003-01 -10.0 -15.3
2003-02 -17.9 -16.4
2003-03 -17.7 -14.3
2003-04 -18.1 -13.5
2003-05 -17.8 -17.7
2003-06 -23.2 -15.8
2003-07 -21.5 -18.1
2003-08 -21.5 -17.0
2003-09 -21.7 -16.2
2003-10 -20.1 -19.1
2003-11 -21.0 -18.9
2003-12 -21.4 -18.5
2004-01 -16.7 -17.1
2004-02 -18.1 -15.6
2004-03 -14.3 -15.4
2004-04 -12.7 -13.9
2004-05 -11.1 -13.9
2004-06 -12.8 -13.6
2004-07 -12.6 -12.5
2004-08 -12.0 -11.7
2004-09 -11.8 -10.9
2004-10 -11.7 -10.1
2004-11 -15.7 -9.0
2004-12 -16.1 -12.3
2005-01 -15.3 -10.7
2005-02 -15.8 -12.2
2005-03 -13.0 -12.7
2005-04 -16.9 -15.4
2005-05 -16.8 -13.2
2005-06 -15.0 -12.3
2005-07 -12.4 -12.7
2005-08 -12.2 -12.4
2005-09 -12.7 -12.1
2005-10 -14.2 -10.2
2005-11 -11.4 -9.6
2005-12 -12.1 -9.5
2006-01 -12.4 -9.5
2006-02 -9.5 -9.5
2006-03 -8.7 -7.5
2006-04 -8.1 -7.6
2006-05 -7.7 -5.8
2006-06 -7.5 -3.4
2006-07 -5.8 -2.9
2006-08 -5.6 -3.0
2006-09 -6.7 -3.1
2006-10 -6.0 -0.7
2006-11 -5.6 -4.4
2006-12 -4.5 -4.4
2007-01 -3.0 -4.9
2007-02 -3.3 -1.1
2007-03 -3.8 -0.5
2007-04 -2.1 1.9
2007-05 -1.7 2.4
2007-06 -1.7 2.2
2007-07 -3.4 0.6
2007-08 -0.9 1.0
2007-09 -0.5 1.2
2007-10 2.0 2.9
2007-11 2.4 3.6
2007-12 2.3 4.4
2008-01 1.8 5.3
2008-02 1.1 2.9
2008-03 -0.1 5.4
2008-04 0.0 3.5
2008-05 -4.8 -0.4
2008-06 -6.4 -2.2
2008-07 -9.0 -3.4
2008-08 -12.6 -5.3
2008-09 -15.2 -7.1
2008-10 -18.2 -8.1
2008-11 -29.2 -19.0
2008-12 -37.2 -23.7
2009-01 -35.1 -25.4
2009-02 -38.3 -31.2
2009-03 -40.8 -33.5
2009-04 -37.7 -34.5
2009-05 -35.5 -38.2
2009-06 -35.5 -38.5
2009-07 -30.1 -38.2
2009-08 -28.4 -31.9
2009-09 -27.7 -33.6
2009-10 -25.4 -31.0
2009-11 -22.5 -26.5
2009-12 -21.7 -25.1
2010-01 -18.7 -23.8
2010-02 -18.0 -21.1
2010-03 -17.4 -19.7
2010-04 -15.9 -18.6
2010-05 -12.2 -12.8
2010-06 -10.2 -10.0
2010-07 -9.2 -9.5
2010-08 -9.2 -7.5
2010-09 -2.9 -6.5
2010-10 -3.1 -3.6
2010-11 -1.4 0.3
2010-12 0.8 0.0
2011-01 1.4 -0.6
2011-02 3.4 1.9
2011-03 5.0 6.6
2011-04 2.0 6.8
2011-05 4.3 8.4
2011-06 7.3 11.6
2011-07 4.0 9.2
2011-08 -2.1 5.7
2011-09 -3.8 -0.2
2011-10 -7.2 2.0
2011-11 -8.1 0.0
2011-12 -12.7 -0.6
2012-01 -7.6 -2.3
2012-02 -9.9 -5.5
2012-03 -7.2 -2.7
2012-04 -7.6 -3.4
2012-05 -10.9 -4.5
2012-06 -12.6 -6.5
2012-07 -12.1 -6.5
2012-08 -15.4 -9.7
2012-09 -20.3 -14.2
2012-10 -16.9 -10.5
2012-11 -20.0 -16.6
2012-12 -18.9 -16.2
2013-01 -13.6 -11.8
2013-02 -18.2 -15.3
2013-03 -20.7 -16.5
2013-04 -15.2 -12.2
2013-05 -19.2 -15.7
2013-06 -20.9 -17.5
2013-07 -16.1 -13.5
2013-08 -16.5 -15.1
2013-09 -15.6 -12.6
2013-10 -12.0 -12.2
2013-11 -13.8 -12.7
2013-12 -11.4 -9.6
2014-01 -12.1 -10.1
2014-02 -13.1 -11.2
2014-03 -12.1 -10.7
2014-04 -11.7 -9.4
2014-05 -11.4 -8.1
2014-06 -12.2 -9.4
2014-07 -10.3 -5.7
2014-08 -12.7 -9.5
2014-09 -13.6 -9.4
2014-10 -12.6 -10.1
2014-11 -13.5 -10.9
2014-12 -12.8 -13.0
2015-01 -12.9 -11.5
2015-02 -11.4 -11.9
2015-03 -10.5 -9.8
2015-04 -9.8 -8.2
2015-05 -10.5 -8.1
2015-06 -8.9 -9.0
2015-07 -9.6 -8.1
2015-08 -8.9 -7.0
2015-09 -6.7 -7.8
2015-10 -8.6 -7.7
2015-11 -4.6 -6.1
2015-12 -6.9 -8.7
2016-01 -6.1 -7.2
2016-02 -7.6 -7.4
2016-03 -6.2 -5.8
2016-04 -7.6 -6.3
2016-05 -6.2 -4.4
2016-06 -6.3 -5.2
2016-07 -7.1 -6.5
2016-08 -8.8 -4.5
2016-09 -4.9 -7.2
2016-10 -3.4 -5.5
2016-11 -3.3 -3.4
2016-12 -3.1 -0.5
2017-01 -5.6 -4.0
2017-02 -3.5 -1.3
2017-03 -2.0 0.5
2017-04 -4.1 -3.0
2017-05 -2.4 -1.2
2017-06 -3.3 -1.3
2017-07 -1.5 0.2
2017-08 -0.8 -0.7
2017-09 0.0 -1.5
2017-10 0.8 2.4
2017-11 3.5 2.1
2017-12 1.6 5.7
2018-01 2.9 4.4
2018-02 4.6 4.0
2018-03 4.8 3.3
2018-04 3.8 3.6
2018-05 3.2 3.6
2018-06 3.8 3.1
2018-07 1.0 2.8
2018-08 1.8 0.5
2018-09 1.9 2.2
2018-10 0.5 0.3
2018-11 -0.4 -1.6
2018-12 4.2 1.3
2019-01 0.1 -0.1
2019-02 0.1 0.7
2019-03 0.4 2.4
2019-04 1.9 6.2
2019-05 0.3 2.2
2019-06 -1.2 1.1
2019-07 -1.8 1.2
2019-08 -0.7 0.5
2019-09 2.5 3.1
2019-10 -2.2 -1.1
2019-11 -1.3 -1.4
2019-12 -0.2 -2.3
2020-01 -2.4 -2.8
2020-02 -2.2 -1.9
2020-03 -4.6 -3.1
2020-04 -32.2 -10.2
2020-05 -25.9 -23.9
2020-06 -20.4 -29.3
2020-07 -14.8 -25.4

Opinion on workforce size in the manufacturing industry

  • Source: INSEE.

Industrialists’ opinion : employment, competitive position, cash-flow and selling prices

Balance of opinion, in % SA
Industrialists’ opinion : employment, competitive position, cash-flow and selling prices (Balance of opinion, in % SA)
Manufacturing industry Mean Oct. 19 Jan. 20 Apr. 20 Jul. 20
Workforce size
Past change -11 -1 -3 -10 -25
Expected change -12 -2 -2 -32 -15
Hiring difficulties (in %) 30 49 48 39 27
Selling prices and cash-flow
Past change in selling prices 0,1 0 0 -0,8 -0,6
Expected change in selling prices 0,2 0 -0,1 -0,9 0,3
Cash-flow problems (in %) 14 11 11 18 13
Competitive position
On the domestic market 1 3 -1 -7 -8
On foreign markets inside EU -2 -9 -4 -17 -16
On foreign markets outside EU -2 -7 -1 -19 -19
General exportation expectations -9 -8 -7 -79 -19
  • * : Long-term average since 1991, except for workforce change (since 1976) and for competitive position by market (since 1997).
  • The results of the latest survey are preliminary
  • A quantitative question is asked about selling prices.
  • Source : INSEE – Quarterly business survey in industry

For further information

The quarterly questions complete the monthly survey published in the version dated 23 July 2020, especially as regards demand and production factors.

A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.

Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab on this page.

Next issue: 22 October 2020 at 8:45 am

Pour en savoir plus

The quarterly questions complete the monthly survey published in the version dated 23 July 2020, especially as regards demand and production factors.

A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.

Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab on this page.

Next issue: 22 October 2020 at 8:45 am

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