Turnover in oil and gas, manufacturing, mining and electricity supply, August 2009

Seasonally-adjusted figures show yet another fall for the industry related to building ships, boats and oil platforms, this time down 20 per cent. Reduced turnover of 14 per cent in the home market and 22 per cent in the export market can partially explain the result. The lower order reserve for this industrial grouping may contribute to even further fall the upcoming time ( Statistics of new orders ). Computer and electrical equipment and Repair and installation of machinery also experienced a fall in turnover, of 5.6 and 7.6 per cent respectively in this last three-month period. The development in these groups has been highly influenced by lower production volume ( Index of production ). In addition, Machinery and equipment went down by 2.4 per cent.

Among those industrial groupings that had positive results, were basic metals and fabricated metal products - up14 and 4.1 per cent respectively. Turnover increased also for non-metallic mineral products, with 6.0 per cent, wood and wood products, with 7.0 per cent, and within and paper and paper products, with 3.9 per cent.

Increase in turnover from July to August

Manufacturing turnover went up 2.2 per cent from July to August 2009, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. This positive development is partly due to an increase of 24 per cent in turnover within basic metals, of which non-ferrous metals was the major contributor, with a turnover of 27 per cent. This development is due to both a higher demand within the export market and a higher price in the international marked ( Producer price index ). Refined petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals went up by 9.2 per cent and wood and wood products increased by 5.2 per cent.

Lower turnover in August 2009 compared to August 2008

Manufacturing turnover fell by 9.4 per cent in August 2009 compared to August 2008, according to unadjusted figures. Even though turnover figures have shown a better result this last month for industrial groupings such as basic metals, there is still a decrease in turnover in a year to year perspective. Turnover for basic metals has shown a fall of 24 per cent since august last year. The same applies to Refined petroleum, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, down 25 per cent. A negative price development has had a significant influence on these industrial groupings ( Producer price index ). Paper and paper products has also had a drop in turnover, of 17 per cent, while wood and wood products has decreased by 11 per cent.

Among the industries that buffered the fall were food products, up 11 per cent, and fabricated metal products, with an increased turnover of 12 per cent. Machinery and equipment also had an increased turnover, of 13 per cent.

Norway and the euro area

Unadjusted figures show that there was a 12.7 per cent fall in Norwegian manufacturing turnover from July 2008 to July 2009. Manufacturing turnover in the euro area dropped 20.3 per cent in the same period, according to figures published by Eurostat .