Sales of manufactured goods amounted to €557.8 million between July and September, a drop of 7.3 per cent, or €44.1 million, when compared to the same period last year.

The decrease was mainly due to lower sales of radio, television and communication equipment, electrical machinery and apparatus and chemicals and chemical products, the National Statistics Office said yesterday. On the other hand, higher sales were registered in food and beverages, publishing and printing, other non-metallic mineral items and fabricated metal products.

Of the total turnover, 75.7 per cent, or €422.5 million, consisted of overseas sales.

Employment in the enterprises sampled went down by 300 employees to 17,428, mainly in the radio, TV and communication equipment sector and the clothes and apparel sector, with 257 and 105 employees respectively.

Increases in employment were recorded in the publishing and printing and the food and beverages sectors with 90 and 77 employees respectively.

In the same three months, €69.5 million were paid out in wages and salaries.

Finally, investment in the manufacturing industry halved when compared to the third quarter last year, now amounting to €26.9 million from last year's €53 million.