15 February 2001
Inquiries: Mr Rami Peltola +358 9 1734 3615, Mr Kari
Rautio +358 9 1734 2479
Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen
Industrial output grew by 7 per cent from previous year in December
According to Statistics Finland, industrial output as calculated per working day was 7.0 per cent higher in December 2000 than one year previously.
Output in the metal industry went up by almost 14 per cent in the year to December. Output growth continued in all the main branches of the metal industry. The growth was largest for the manufacture of precision mechanical products, up by almost 46 per cent. The manufacture of metal products rose by good 34 per cent and that of machinery and equipment by over 22 per cent. In contrast, the manufacture of electrical equipment, which had long been the driving force behind the growth, went up by just 8.5 per cent. This modest growth was partly due to the strong growth in the reference period, that is, December 1999.
In December output in the wood and paper industry fell by one per cent. This fall was attributable to the almost 22 per cent growth in the reference period, that is, December 1999. Output in the chemical industry grew by good 8 per cent. Output in other manufacturing went down by nearly one per cent. Energy production was nearly two per cent higher in December 2000 than in December 1999.
Capacity utilisation rate in manufacturing was good 84 per cent in December. In the pulp and paper industry, capacity utilisation rate was almost 89 per cent, in the metal industry nearly 90 per cent and in the chemical industry close on 77 per cent. Capacity utilisation rate in other manufacturing was good 76 per cent.
Industrial output up by 11.1 per cent last year
According to Statistics Finland, industrial output went up by as much as 11.1 per cent in 2000. Industrial output increased this strongly last in 1994, which was, though, preceded by the recession of the early 1990s.
Last year the growth continued to be powered by the manufacture of electrical equipment, the output of which increased by good 35 per cent. The other main branches of the metal industry also grew last year. The manufacture of metal products went up by 11.5 per cent and that of vehicles and trailers by 9.5 per cent. Output in the paper and pulp industry grew by good 4 per cent. Output grew by 7 per cent in the chemical industry and by nearly 3 per cent in other manufacturing.
Release of the Volume Index of Industrial Output will become faster
This is the last press release on the Volume Index of Industrial Output to be published on the 15th day of the month. On 28 February a press release on the Volume Index of Industrial Output for January will be made public, also giving information about the development of the main branches of industry. From then onwards, the press release will be issued on the last workday of each month. Detailed series by branch of industry and the actual publication will continue to be published six weeks from the end of the statistical month.
Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output 2000, December. Statistics Finland