30 April 2004
Inquiries: Mr Kari Rautio +358 9 1734
2479, kari.rautio@stat.fi
Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen
Industrial output grew by 0.2 per cent in March from February
According to Statistics Finland, seasonally adjusted industrial output went up by 0.2 per cent in March 2004 from February 2004. Industrial output has grown slightly in two successive months.
Seasonally adjusted change from previous month in the volume of industrial output, %
Industrial output in March unchanged from the year before
In March 2004, seasonally adjusted industrial output was at the same level as in March 2003. In March the biggest increases in output concerned manufacture of electronic and electrical products, up by 4 per cent. Output in the wood and paper industry increased by almost 3 per cent. Output in other manufacturing also grew in March, by close on 2 per cent. Output fell most in the rest of the metal industry, by 6.5 per cent. Output in the chemical industry was nearly 6 per cent lower than in last year's March.
Seasonally adjusted change in the volume of industrial output 03/2003-03/2004, %
Seasonally adjusted change in the volume of industrial output from the corresponding time period of the previous year, %
Capacity utilisation rate in manufacturing was good 87 per cent in March, which was nearly 5 percentage point higher than in March 2003. In the pulp and paper industry, capacity utilisation rate was 93 per cent, in the metal industry 89 per cent and in the chemical industry 81 per cent. Capacity utilisation rate in other manufacturing was 81 per cent.
Revised data for March will be published on 31 May 2004 at 8 am in connection with the industrial output data for April. Because of the method used, seasonally adjusted figures for previous months may change even if the original figures do not become revised.
Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output 2004,
March. Statistics Finland
StatFin statistical service at: statfin.stat.fi