Index of industrial production, March 2003

Intermediate goods output has decreased by almost 3 per cent and the capital goods output has had a drop by 1.7 per cent during the last three months compared with the three previous months.

Intermediate goods

The output in refined petroleum products and chemicals and chemical products have experienced a 2.9 per cent decrease during the first quarter of this year compared with the previous quarter. At the same time the basic chemical alone has experienced a 4.1 per cent drop. There was a considerable reduction in the output of rubber and plastic products. While the basic metals have experienced a drop in the output, for non-ferrous metals the output has increased by 3 per cent.

Capital goods

Oil platforms and modules have had a 1.7 per cent decline in their output during the first quarter of this year compared with the fourth quarter of the last year. The transport equipment has had a 1.9 per cent drop. The machinery and equipment n.e.c. has had an increase in the output.

Consumer goods

The output for non-durable consumer goods has had a drop by 0.5 per cent during the last three months compared with the previous three months. The output in the publishing, printing, and reproduction has experienced an increase by 1.9 per cent, while the output for food products, beverages and tobacco has had a decrease by 1.5 per cent. Durable consumer goods have experienced an increase by 1.2 per cent during the first quarter of this year compared with the fourth quarter last year.

February to March

The manufacturing output has had a decline by 0.4 per cent from February to March this year, according to the seasonally adjusted figures. The output in intermediate goods for March has dropped by 0.2 per cent following an improvement in February. Capital goods output and output for the consumer goods continue to decline.