Malta registers greatest decrease in industrial production in the EU

In April, Malta registered the highest decrease in industrial production in the entire ERU, figures published by Eurostat last week show.

With the eurogroup 18 registering a growth of 0.8% and the EU 28 a growth of 0.7%, Malta was one of just six countries which registered a decrease. Some, like Norway (0.2%), Romania and Finland (0.3%) were rather contained, but then there was also Denmark (-0.9%) and Croatia (-2.9%) but Malta exceeded them all with a 6.0% decrease.

Malta was also by far the worst in the EU and the euro area where comparisons with last year were made. Malta’s decrease on an annual basis was registered at 11.4%, far beyond the puny decreases registered: Netherlands -3.4%; Greece - 2.4%; Finland -2.2%; and Lithuania -0.1%.

The rest of the EU and the euro area were all in the positive sign.

In April 2014 compared with March 2014, seasonally adjusted industrial production1 rose by 0.8% in the euro area (EA18) and by 0.7% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In March 2014 industrial production fell by 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.

In April 2014 compared with April 20134, industrial production grew by 1.4% in the euro area and by 2.1% in the EU28.

The increase of 0.8% in industrial production in the euro area in April 2014, compared with March 2014, is due to production of energy rising by 2.5%, nondurable consumer goods by 2.1% and intermediate goods by 0.6%, while durable consumer goods and capital goods remained almost stable.

In the EU28, the increase of 0.7% is due to production of energy rising by 1.8%, non-durable consumer goods by 1.4%, durable consumer goods by 0.7%, intermediate goods by 0.6% and capital goods by 0.4%.

The highest increases in industrial production were registered in Portugal (+6.7%), Lithuania (+4.9%), the Netherlands (+3.5%) and Hungary (+2.5%), and the only decreases in Malta (-6.0%), Croatia (-2.9%), Denmark (-0.9%), Romania and Finland (both -0.3%).

The increase of 1.4% in industrial production in the euro area in April 2014, compared with April 2013, is due to production of non-durable consumer goods rising by 5.0%, intermediate goods by 3.4%, durable consumer goods by 1.0% and capital goods by 0.3%, while energy fell by 6.7%.

In the EU28, the increase of 2.1% is due to production of intermediate goods rising by 4.3%, non-durable consumer goods by 4.2%, durable consumer goods by 2.0% and capital goods by 1.8%, while energy fell by 6.0%.

The highest increases in industrial production were registered in Ireland (+15.0%), Hungary (+10.1%), the Czech Republic (+9.2%) and Portugal (+5.8%), and the largest decreases in Malta (-11.4%), The Netherlands (-3.4%) and Greece (-2.4%).