15 January, 1998
Inquiries: Mr Kari Rautio + 358 9 1734 2479
Statistical Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen
November industrial output up by 9.7 per cent
Industrial output continued to grow in November. According to Statistics Finland's index per working day, output increased by 9.7 per cent in the year to November. Growth was mainly sustained by exports, but domestic markets also grew stronger.
Output in the metal industry increased by nearly 14 per cent in November. Of the main sectors of the metal industry, the biggest output increase was recorded in the manufacture of electrical equipment, up by well over 19 per cent. Output in the wood and paper industry increased by 12 per cent. Output of wood products was up by good 8 per cent and of paper by nearly 14 per cent on the previous year. After the autumn maintenance shutdowns, output in the chemical industry also resumed an upward trend in November.
Of the construction-related industries, output in the pottery, glass and stone processing industry grew by good 16 per cent in November. Over 7 per cent more furniture was produced than in November 1996. Output in publishing and printing also went up by nearly 11 per cent.
90 per cent of the manufacturing capacity was in use in November. Capacity utilisation rate in the metal industry was 91 per cent, in the wood and paper industry 98 per cent, in the chemical industry 81 per cent and in other manufacturing industry 80 per cent.
In the January to November period, industrial output grew by nearly 8 per cent compared to the same period last year. Output in the paper industry increased by 15 per cent, in the wood industry by nearly 14 per cent, in the metal industry by 11 per cent and in the chemical industry by close on 2 per cent. Output in other manufacturing industry grew by almost 4 per cent.
In October, the revised growth rate in industrial output was 6.7 per cent, which is 0.1 percentage points above previously published figures.
Source: Volume index of Industrial Output, November 1997. Statistics Finland