Turnover in oil and gas, manufacturing, mining and electricity supply, January 2004

From December to January turnover within manufacturing experienced a slight increase of 0.8 per cent. Consumer goods have had a stable growth in turnover the last three months and intermediate goods have turned a negative trend to a positive one. Capital goods, on the other hand, experienced a marked decrease in turnover, falling 14.7 per cent from December.

Strong fall for capital goods

Lower turnover within capital goods was mainly a result of a decrease within oil platforms and modules and machinery and equipment. Machinery and equipment has been in a continued decline since august 2003. New orders within this industry, however, show a marked increase, and this can generate an improvement in turnover in the coming months. (Read more: Statistics on new orders. Manufacturing, 4th quarter 2003 )

Intermediate goods up 3.6 per cent

All industries within intermediate goods (pulp, paper and paper products, basic chemicals and basic metals a.o.) experienced increased turnover from December to January, according to seasonally adjusted figures. Pulp, paper and paper products showed growth throughout the last six months of 2003, and the level of turnover has been stable since November 2003. Non-ferrous metals also entered the year with increased turnover.

Consumer goods up 3.5 per cent

Increased turnover within food products was the main contributor to the raise within consumer goods from December to January. However, other industries within the main industrial grouping also experienced growth from December to January, according to seasonally adjusted figures.