Romania, among EU member states showing increase in industrial output in November 2009Updated: 15-01-2010 | Regional Europe

The industrial output rose more than expected in November compared with October, both in the EU and in the euro area, while the annual loss rate was the smallest recorded since October 2008.

The factory output saw its annual rate plunging in all the EU member states for which data were made available, except for Poland (+7.3 percent), Romania (+4.4 percent) and Luxembourg (+0.7 percent).

According to data on Thursday released by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat), the factory sector in the euro area recorded a 1.0 percent growth in November 2009 (after a decline of 0.3 percent in the month October) compared with the previous month, while in the EU it registered 0.9 percent rise (after a decline of 0.7 percent in October). Most experts in economy expected the euro area to climb 0.5 percent in terms of industrial output in November against October.

According to existing data, the industrial sector grew in 16 of the member states and dipped in only four in November 2009. The largest increases were recorded as following: 8.7 percent in Latvia, 3.0 percent in Slovenia, 2.9 percent in Estonia, 2.6 percent in Finland, 2.2 percent in Poland and 1.7 percent in Romania.

The annual growth rate in terms of industrial output registered in November 2009 a decrease of 7.1 percent in the euro area and one of 6.4 percent in the European Union. This is the 19th consecutive month with industrial output recording loss in the annual rate. Nevertheless, November 2009 showed the smallest decrease in industrial production in the latest 13 months.

According to figures provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) in November 2009, the industrial output slumped 4 percent against the previous month and increased as adjusted series depending on the number of working days and seasonality by 1.7 percent. Lower manufacturing (-5.2 percent) and mining industry (-2.6 percent) caused the 4 percent drop in industrial output. Production and supply of electricity and thermal energy, gas, steam and air conditioning rose 5.3 percent in November compared with October 2009.

In November 2009, compared to the previous month, the production in industry (adjusted series) increased 1.7 percent, due to manufacturing (+1.9 percent). Production and supply of electricity and thermal energy, gas, steam and air conditioning and mining industry decreased by 0.4 percent, 0.3 percent respectively.

Agerpres