30 November 2001
Inquiries: Mr Kari Rautio +358 9 1734 2479, Mr Rami
Peltola +358 9 1734 3615
Director in charge: Mr Ilkka Hyppönen
Industrial output continued to fall in October
According to Statistics Finland, industrial output as calculated per working day was 6.2 per cent lower in October than one year previously. The sharp fall in October was partly due to the record high output level in the reference period, that is, last year's October. Adjusted for seasonal variation, output in October fell by 0.7 per cent from September. In the January to October period, industrial output as calculated per working day went down by 0.2 per cent from the previous year.
Output in the metal industry declined by good 5 per cent in October. Within the metal industry, the manufacture of electrical equipment fell by good 7 per cent compared to October 2000. Output in the rest of the metal industry decreased by nearly 2 per cent.
In October output in the wood and paper industry fell by almost 12 per cent from the year before. Output in the chemical industry went down by just under 4 per cent and in other manufacturing by close on 7 per cent. Of the main industries, only energy production grew by nearly one per cent.
Capacity utilisation rate in manufacturing was 86 per cent in October, while in last year's October it was almost 4.5 percentage points higher. In the pulp and paper industry, capacity utilisation rate was 86 per cent, in the metal industry 91 per cent and in the chemical industry 81 per cent. Capacity utilisation rate in other manufacturing was 80 per cent.
These preliminary data are based on information available to Statistics Finland by 28 November. A more accurate growth percentage of industrial output and data by industry for October will be published on the Internet in the StatFin statistical service on 14 December 2001 at 7 am.
Source: Volume Index of Industrial Output 2001,
October, preliminary data. Statistics Finland
StatFin statistical service at: statfin.stat.fi