Index of industrial production, September 2014

The index level for Norwegian manufacturing amounted to 124.6 (2005= 100) in the third quarter of 2014. The corresponding figure for the previous quarter was 123.3.

Three-month change: high summer-activity for producers who deliver to the oil and gas sector

There was a 1.1 per cent increase in manufacturing from the second to the third quarter of 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures . The growth was particularly related to high activity in July and August among producers who deliver to the petroleum sector. Industries such as ships, boats and oil platforms and repair and installation of machinery had high activity levels in these two months due to a high work load among leading producers. For ships, boats and oil platforms, the growth in output was particularly related to oil platforms and modules. In addition, stable growth within machinery and equipment also contributed positively to the overall manufacturing output from the second to the third quarter. Since 2005, the industry has seen an output increase equivalent to 125 per cent. Due to a high level of order stocks the production was positive in these petroleum-related industries, despite a notable fall in new orders from the second to the third quarter. For more information, see the index of orders for manufacturing for Q3 2014 .

On the other hand, rubber, plastic and mineral products together with refined petroleum, basic chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry had a decline in production from the second to the third quarter of 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.

Monthly change: clear fall in production from August to September 2014

Ships, boats and oil platforms together with refined petroleum, basic chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry saw a clear output decrease from August to September 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Completion of large projects within ships, boats and oil platforms in August is one of the factors that contribute to the negative figures for September. The downturn in refined petroleum, basic chemicals and the pharmaceutical industry was partly due to shutdowns for planned maintenance work among main producers in September 2014.

On the other hand, machinery and equipment and non-ferrous metals had a minor increase in production from August to September 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.

Twelve-month change: stronger growth in Norway than in the euro area in August 2014

Production in Norwegian manufacturing went up by 5.2 per cent from August 2013 to August 2014, according to calendar-adjusted figures . The growth can particularly be related to an output increase in industries such as machinery and equipment and ships, boats and oil platforms. Estimated figures from Eurostat, the EU`s statistical office, indicate that production in the manufacturing industries in the euro area declined by 1.5 per cent in this period.

Three-month change: solid increase in total industrial production (PII)

The overall production index (PII) covering extraction, mining, manufacturing and electricity supply increased by 2.4 per cent from the second to the third quarter of 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. In this period, extraction of crude petroleum increased by 8.2 per cent, while extraction of natural gas went up by 1.0 per cent. On a month to month basis, from August to September 2014, extraction of crude petroleum and extraction of natural gas increased by 4.8 and 7.1 per cent respectively, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. For more details about oil and gas extraction for September 2014, see the press release from The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate .

Production within Norwegian electricity supply decreased by 10.4 per cent from the second to the third quarter of 2014, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.