Improvements for manufacturing

According to seasonally-adjusted figures, production in manufacturing increased by 1.2 per cent from May to July 2010 compared with the previous three-month period.

Output in wood and wood products went up by 12.0 per cent, while rubber, plastic and mineral products increased by 6.4 per cent. This development is due to increased building activity in Norway (see statistics on construction, new orders). Output in ships and oil platforms went up by 3.3 per cent.

Basic chemicals went up by 3.2 per cent from May to July 2010 compared with the previous three-month period. Production in basic chemicals is now higher than before the financial crisis. The main contributor to this upturn is the increased activity in Norwegian solar industry. Production in food products was unchanged, while fabricated metal products went down by 1.4 per cent.

From July 2009 to July 2010

Output in manufacturing went up by 6.6 per cent from July 2009 to July 2010, according to working-day adjusted figures. Wood and wood products increased by 29.1 per cent, while basic metals had a 21.9 per cent growth.

Output in food products as well as printing and reproduction went down. Basic chemicals went up by 68.5 per cent from July 2009 to July 2010. This upturn is due to high production in July 2010 compared to July 2009, when many production units were closed down due to low demand.

From June to July 2010

Output in Norwegian manufacturing increased by 0.1 per cent from June to July 2010, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. Output in wood and wood products increased by 10.0 per cent, while output in ships and oil platforms went up by 3.9 per cent. Output in food products as well as fabricated metal products went down. Seasonally-adjusted figures show a 16.6 per cent growth in basic chemicals from June to July 2010. Monthly changes must be interpreted with caution. This is particularly important for basic chemicals due to the lack of a consistent seasonal pattern in this industry.

Norway and the euro area

There was a 7.3 per cent increase in Norwegian manufacturing output from June 2009 to June 2010, according to working-day adjusted figures. Industrial production in the euro area increased by 8.1 per cent in the same period, according to figures published by Eurostat.

Source: Statistics Norway