30 August 2001
Inquiries: Mr Kari Rautio +358 9 1734 2479, Mr Rami
Peltola +358 9 1734 3615
Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen
Industrial output fell further in July
According to Statistics Finland, industrial output as calculated per working day was 5.4 per cent lower in July than one year previously. Industrial output has been on the decline since April. A corresponding fall in industrial output was last experienced almost ten years ago. In the January to July period, output increased only by a good one per cent from the previous year.
Output in the metal industry went down by 6.5 per cent in the year to July. Within the metal industry, the manufacture of electrical equipment fell by nearly 19 per cent. The rest of the metal industry was the only bright spot among the main branches, since there output grew by almost 10 per cent.
In July output in the wood and paper industry decreased by nearly 12 per cent from the year before. Output in the chemical industry fell by 6.5 per cent and in other manufacturing by 1.5 per cent. Energy production grew by almost 4 per cent from July 2000.
Capacity utilisation rate in manufacturing was 73 per cent in July, while in July 2000 it was good 2 percentage points higher. In the pulp and paper industry, capacity utilisation rate was 86 per cent, in the metal industry 72 per cent and in the chemical industry 68 per cent. Capacity utilisation rate in other manufacturing was 68 per cent.
These preliminary data are based on information available to Statistics Finland by 29 August. A more accurate growth percentage of industrial output and data by industry for July will be published on the Internet in the StatFin statistical service on 14 September 2001 at 7 am.
Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output 2001,
July, preliminary data. Statistics Finland
StatFin statistical service at: http://statfin.stat.fi/