TALLINN - Industrial production by Estonia's manufacturers continues its severe slump as weakness in both export markets and domestic consumption impact nearly all areas of industry, reports news agency bbn.ee.
Production numbers for June show a drop of 30 percent compared with last year's June figures.
This marks a continuing downward trend with output since February of in the range of 30 percent each month, in year-on-year comparisons, a trend accelerating from a 22 percent drop in December 2008 and 26 percent in January.
Shipbuilding stayed above water recording a jump in output, by 44 percent. Its small share of total industrial output meant it had little effect on overall numbers.
Production in the metals and metal products sector fell by more than half. The manufacture of building materials, chemical products, paper, machinery and equipment, and motor vehicles decreased more than 40 percent year-on-year.
Electronic products, clothing apparel, furniture and refined petroleum product output fell by more than 30 percent, though less severe drops were to be found in pharmaceutical manufacturing, down 6 percent, and in food and food product production, off by 8 percent.
Month-to-month figures show a more positive picture as industrial output, from May to June, was down by only 1 percent, reflecting some stabilization though at a lower overall level.
