Turnover in oil and gas, manufacturing, mining and electricity supply, January 2014

The biggest contributor to the 1.8 per cent decrease was the grouping refined petroleum products, and chemical and pharmaceutical products, which recorded a decline of 6.8 per cent from November 2013 to January 2014 compared to the previous three-month period, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Basic chemicals, the biggest sub-industry in the grouping, edged down 9.2 per cent; mainly as a result of a decrease in the export market. According to the Index of industrial production, these industries also recorded a reduction in their production volume.

Building of ships and oil platforms recorded a 4.3 per cent decline, where the decrease within the industry was mainly due to several large deliveries registered in the previous three-month period. Repair, installation of machinery edged down 2.8 per cent.

Despite the overall reduction in turnover, some manufacturing industries recorded an increase in this period. Basic metals and its sub-industry non-ferrous metals increased 3.5 and 5.6 per cent respectively in addition to their growth in production volume. Fabricated metal products rose 2.2 per cent.

Monthly change: decline in turnover from December 2013 to January 2014

Total Norwegian manufacturing turnover went down 2.5 per cent from the last month in 2013 to the first month in 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Food products with a decrease of 4.6 per cent had the largest share in this decline. This was followed by building of ships, boats and oil platforms, which fell 13 per cent. The machinery and equipment industry fell 11.9 per cent and accounted for the third biggest industry with a negative change in this period.

On the contrary, repair, installation of machinery edged up 3.6 per cent and slight growth was seen in basic metals and fabricated metal products. Refined petroleum products, and chemical and pharmaceutical products also rose 1.7 per cent.

Twelve-month change: food products had strong growth from January 2013

Calendar-adjusted figures showed a decrease of 0.3 per cent in total manufacturing turnover in January 2014 compared to January 2013.

Although manufacturing turnover was almost unchanged, some of the industrial sectors showed notable changes, both positive and negative. The food, beverages and tobacco industry (3.7 per cent) and repair, installation of machinery (19.5 per cent) accounted for most of the increase in turnover in January 2014 compared to January 2013.

In the opposite direction, machinery and equipment, and building of ships, boats and oil platforms had a declining turnover of 6.6 and 15.9 per cent respectively. Refined petroleum, chemical and pharmaceutical industries edged down 3.1 per cent.

The most notable change was for the paper and paper products industry, which decreased by 26.4 per cent, and had a decline in production volume due to several producers closing down in the last twelve months.

Monthly change: Norwegian manufacturing up, euro area down in December 2013

Norwegian manufacturing turnover went up 0.6 per cent from November to December 2013, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. In the same period, manufacturing turnover in the euro area was down 0.7 per cent, according to Eurostat.