Manufacturing industry sales down by 13 per cent

Factories saw a 13 per cent drop in sales in the last quarter of 2008, according to the latest official statistics. The National Statistics Office said factory sales sampled in a survey stood at €513.5 million, a drop of 12.8 per cent when compared to the same period in 2007.

The drop was mainly due to lower sales in communication equipment and chemical products. Lower sales were also registered by the publishing and printing, the rubber and plastic products and the furniture and manufacturing sectors.

On the other hand, there was a rise in the sale of electrical machinery and other non-metallic mineral products. Export amounted for 76.8 per cent, or €394.6 million, of the total sales. Employment fell by 590 to 17,094 workers, mainly in the radio, television and communication equipment industry, which lost 284 employees.

The rubber and plastic products industry had 156 fewer employees and the clothes industry saw a drop of 109 employees. Employment in the transport equipment industry rose by 159 people and the non-metallic mineral products industry registered an increase of 54 workers.

Investment fell by €5.7 million to €32 million.