Index of industrial production, January 2010

Basic metals went up by 7.1 per cent due to an increase in demand, but production in this sector is still significantly lower than before the financial crisis. Production in non-ferrous metals and basic chemicals increased by 3.5 and 13.5 per cent respectively.

Decreasing output in ships and oil platforms

Output in ships, boats and oil platforms went down by 4.4 per cent in November 2009 to January 2010 compared to the previous three-month period. A significant drop in stock of unfilled orders as well as a decrease in new orders has contributed to this downturn (see Statistics on new orders 4^{t h} quarter 2009 ). This has in turn affected engineering industries in general. For instance, machinery and equipment and fabricated metal products went down by 1.2 and 1.0 per cent respectively.

Cold weather affects production

Output in food products went down by 1.4 per cent in November 2009 to January 2010 compared to the previous three-month period. There has also been a 5.8 per cent decrease in rubber, plastic and mineral products. Unusually cold weather in January 2010 has affected building activities in Norway and therefore the demand for mineral products. The cold weather has also had an effect on output in food products because of problems in the slaughterhouse industry.

From January 2009 to January 2010

Output in manufacturing decreased by 4.4 per cent from January 2009 to January 2010, according to working-day adjusted figures. The output in basic metals and basic chemicals increased considerably during this period, while the output in building of ships and oil platforms went down by 9.3 per cent.

From December 2009 to January 2010

Output in Norwegian manufacturing went down by 0.4 per cent from December 2009 to January 2010, according to seasonally adjusted figures. Production in food products and building of ships and oil platforms fell, while output in basic chemicals went up.

Norway and the euro area

There was a 2.6 per cent decrease in Norwegian manufacturing output from December 2008 to December 2009, according to working-day adjusted figures. Industrial production in the euro area dropped by 5.1 per cent in the same period according to figures published by Eurostat .