Growth in industrial output spearheaded by the wood and paper industry in February

Industrial output grew by 6.7 per cent in the year to February, the index per working day of Statistics Finland indicates.

Growth was still strongest in the wood and paper industry. The high growth figure was partly due to the low level of output during the comparison period, i. e. in February 1996. The production of pulp and paper increased by close on 14 per cent in February. The increase in newbuilding and rebuilding spurred a strong growth in the building- related industry. Output of wood products grew by about one fifth on the year before, while that in the building materials industry was up by nearly 17 per cent. The production of furniture was also a good fifth greater than in February of 1996.

In the metal industry output was up by over 5 per cent in the year to February. Of the main sectors of the metal industry, the manufacture of electrical equipment increased most, up by a good 11 per cent.

Output in the chemical industry grew by 5 per cent in February, and that in other manufacturing by over 7 per cent. The production of foodstuffs grew by a good 9 per cent.

Output of investment goods was close on 14 per cent greater compared to February of last year. The output of consumer goods grew by 3 per cent, and that of output commodities by over 6 per cent.

The capacity utilisation rate in manufacturing was nearly 85 per cent in February, which is a good 3 percentage points more than the year before. In the metal industry, the utilisation rate was 87 per cent, in the wood and paper industry 91, in the chemical industry 77 and in other manufacturing 76 per cent.

Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output, February 1997
Further information: Mr. Kari Rautio, tel. +358 9 1734 2479