The Statistical Service has announced the publication of the annual report “Industrial Statistics, 2008”. The report provides detailed data on the broad industrial sector, covering manufacturing. mining and quarrying and electricity and water supply.
In 2008 the real rate of growth of industry (measured in terms of the value added at constant market prices of 2000 using the chain-linking method) is provisionally estimated at 3.7% compared with a growth rate of 1.6% in 2007.
For manufacturing an increase of 3.3% is estimated; for mining and quarrying an increase of 5.5% and for electricity, gas and water an increase of 4.8%.
The major developments within each subsector during 2008 were as follows.
Mining and quarrying
The mining and quarrying sector in 2008 increased by 14.3% at current market prices compared with the previous year.
It is estimated that the value added of the sector increased from EUR 52.2 mln in 2007 to EUR 59.7 mln in 2008.
Manufacturing
The value added of the manufacturing sector at current market prices reached EUR 1,345.8 mln in 2008 compared with EUR 1,225.3 mln in 2007, presenting an increase of 9.8% in current-price terms.
This was mainly owing to the growth of the subsectors of food products, beverages and tobacco and the other non-metallic mineral products.
In 2008, food, beverages and tobacco industries, which traditionally constitute the largest sub-sector, contributed 32.6% to the manufacturing value added, compared with 31.2% in 2007.
The value added registered an increase of 14.7% and reached EUR 438.8 mln compared with EUR 382.7 mln in 2007 at current market prices.
The continued growth of the construction sector enabled the subsector of other non-metallic mineral products to increase its contribution to the value added of manufacturing. Non-metallic mineral products reached EUR 217.7 mln compared with EUR 201.1 mln in 2007 at current market prices, registering an increase of 8.3%.
This helped the group remain the second largest in manufacturing.
The price index of domestically produced manufactured goods rose by 7.5% over 2007, compared with a 4.5% increase in the previous year.
This is attributed to an increase of 8.2% in local market prices and 1.6% in export prices.
Industrial exports increased significantly from EUR 374.2 mln in 2007 to EUR 422.6 mln in 2008.
Exports to the countries of the European Union contributed 56.2% to the total; exports to the countries of the Middle East 15.9% and exports to other countries 27.9%.
Expenditure on fixed assets in the sector during 2008 increased significantly to EUR 210.5 mln compared with EUR 188.6 mln in 2007.
Machinery and equipment accounted for 53.2% of the total investment, new buildings and works for 31.7% and transport equipment for the remaining 15.1%.
Employment in the manufacturing sector increased to 37,400 people compared with 37,100 people in 2007.
The share of unemployment in the sector to total unemployment is estimated at 7.8%, with average unemployment reaching 1,133 persons in 2008 compared with 1,433 in 2007.
Electricity and water supply
During 2008 there was an increase in the rate of growth in this sector, estimated at 3.4%, compared with 11.6% in 2007. The value added of the sector at current market prices reached EUR 321.8 mln.
Sales of electricity rose by 6.0% and reached 4,555.8 mln kWh in 2008 from 4,298.3 mln kWh in 2007.
Consumption of electricity by households increased by 4.7%; for water pumping purposes it rose by 14.3% and for public lighting it rose by 10.4%.
Consumption of water in towns is estimated to have decreased by 6.1% to 30.2 mln tonnes, compared with 32.2 mln tonnes in 2007. In 2008 many municipalities implemented water cuts in order to deal with the sever drought.
The report is available for sale from the government Printing Office at the price of EUR 13.50. It is also available free of charge in electronic form from the website of the Statistical Service under the section Publications (Category: Annual Publications. Theme: Industry. Construction. Subtheme: Industry).
