15 June, 1998

Inquiries: Mr Kari Rautio + 358 9 1734 2479
Statistical Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen

Industrial output up by 10.5 per cent in April

Strong growth in industrial output continued through April. According to Statistics Finland's index per working day, industrial output increased by 10.5 per cent in the year to April.

Growth in industrial output was fastest in the metal industry and in the wood and paper industry in April. Output in the metal industry grew by good 14 per cent in April. Of the main sectors of the metal industry, the biggest output increases were recorded in the manufacture of electrical equipment, up by almost 28 per cent. In the wood and paper industry, output grew by good 11 per cent. The manufacture of wood and wood products increased by good 13 per cent and that of pulp, paper and paper products by close on 11 per cent.

Output in the chemical industry increased by nearly 11 per cent in the year to April. Strong growth in the chemical industry was partly due to maintenance stoppages in last year's April. Output in other manufacturing industries, which produce goods primarily for the domestic market, increased by good 4 per cent.

Nearly 16 per cent more investment goods and good 8 per cent more consumer durables were produced this April compared to last year's April. The production of raw materials and output commodities grew by over 11 per cent.

Nearly 91 per cent of the manufacturing capacity was in use in April, which is almost 2 percentage points higher than the previous year. In the pulp and paper industry, the capacity rate was good 97 per cent, in the metal industry over 92 per cent and in the chemical industry good 85 per cent.

During the January to April period, industrial output increased by 9.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. Growth was fastest in the metal industry where output increased by close on 15 per cent. Output also grew faster than average in the wood and paper industry, up by almost 10 per cent.

In March, the revised growth rate in industrial output as calculated per working day was 9.4 per cent, which is 0.1 percentage points lower than the previously published figure.

Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output 1998, April. Statistics Finland