Index of industrial production, March 2009

To date, basic metals and wood and wood products are among the industries that have been most affected by the crisis. For example, the difficulties in the international automotive industries have caused a significantly lower demand for basic metals (see Statistics on new orders ). As a result, output in the Norwegian basic metals decreased by 15.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 and 13. 6 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the previous quarters.

Similarly, the drop in the building activity in Norway is a major cause of the 20.5 per cent decrease in wood and wood products in the first quarter this year compared to the fourth quarter last year. The decrease in building activity has also reduced the output of rubber, plastic and mineral products. Furthermore, the output in paper and paper products and basic chemicals has been reduced by 8.5 and 2.3 per cent in the first quarter this year compared to the previous quarter, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. This is due to the drop in international demand.

Ships, boats and oil platforms

Production of ships, boats and oil platforms increased by 3.0 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter. This is a result of the level of unfilled orders that still makes for high production levels in the industry. According to seasonally-adjusted figures, this has led to a 1.4 per cent growth in the production of capital goods in the first quarter this year compared to the previous quarter, which in turn also dampened the drop in the Norwegian industrial production figures as a whole in 2009. The difficulties in the Norwegian automotive spare parts industries caused reduced output in transport equipments n.e.c.

Reduced activity in food products and furniture

There was a 2.3 per cent drop in food products in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the last quarter of 2008. During the same period, the production of furniture and manufacturing n.e.c was reduced by 10.5 per cent, according to seasonally-adjusted figures.

From March 2008 to March 2009

The output in manufacturing decreased by 2.8 per cent from March 2008 to March 2009, according to working-day adjusted figures. In this period the output in basic metals, transport equipments n.e.c and wood and wood products decreased considerably, while the output in machinery and building of ship and oil platforms increased strongly.

From February 2009 to March 2009

Output in Norwegian manufacturing decreased by 0.6 per cent from February to March 2009, according to seasonally-adjusted figures. In this period the output in basic metals, fabricated metal products and rubber, plastic and mineral products decreased, while output in machinery and repair and installation of machinery increased.

Norway and the Euro area

There was a 5.1 per cent decrease in Norwegian manufacturing output from February 2008 to February 2009, according to working-day adjusted figures. Industrial production in the Euro area dropped by 20.5 per cent in the same period, according to figures published by Eurostat.