Index of industrial production, December 2011

Industries such as fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment together with ships, boats and oil platforms had a growth in production in 2011. Production of fabricated metal products increased by 3.1 per cent from 2010 to 2011, while machinery and equipment went up 5.7 per cent, according to working-day adjusted figures. Ships, boats and oil platforms also saw an increase of 3.0 per cent. The growth in these industries can be related to the record high investments made in the Norwegian petroleum sector in 2011 (see Investment statistics, 4th quarter 2011 ).

Decrease in basic metals and paper and paper products

Basic metals had a 7.9 per cent decline in manufacturing in 2011 compared with 2010, according to working-day adjusted figures. Production of non-ferrous metals decreased by 3.0 per cent in this period. Regarding non-ferrous metals, the decrease in 2011 can be explained by weak demand from abroad, see statistics of external trade in goods . Production of paper and paper products also went down in 2011. The figures show an 11.3 per cent drop in 2011 compared with 2010. Market slowdown, together with shutdowns for maintenance and extraordinary stops, contributed to the decline. In addition, Norwegian food products saw a downturn in production in 2011 compared with 2010, according to working-day adjusted figures.

Growth in manufacturing in the fourth quarter of 2011

Norwegian manufacturing increased by 0.9 per cent in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter in 2011, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. There was an increase in production in industries such as machinery and equipment, and ships, boats and oil platforms. Food products, basic metals and production of basic chemicals had a decrease in production in the same period. The downturn in basic chemicals was partly due to the decline in the solar-cell industry. Food products also saw a minor decrease in production compared with the previous quarter, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.

From December 2010 to December 2011

The output in manufacturing went up by 0.6 per cent from December 2010 to December 2011, according to working-day adjusted figures. Fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment and ship, boats and oil platforms experienced a high growth in production. Paper and paper products together with production of basic chemicals and basic metals saw a clear decline in production.

From November to December 2011

Norwegian manufacturing had a decrease in production of 0.3 per cent from November to December, 2011, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Ships, boats and oil platforms, as well as repair and installation of machinery saw an increase in production. Paper and paper products, and basic chemicals had a drop in production.

Norway and the euro area

There was a 0.4 per cent increase in Norwegian manufacturing output from November 2010 to November 2011, according to working-day adjusted figures. Industrial production in the euro area increased by 0.7 per cent in the same period, according to figures published by Eurostat .