By Marleny Arnoldi.
Manufaturing production decreased by 3.2% year-on-year in February, with the largest negative contributions made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipement, having contracted by just under 15% and contributing -1.3; and petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products, having contracted by 5.6% and contributing -1.2 percentage points.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production increased by 0.3% in February compared with January. This followed month-on-month changes of 0.4% in January and -2.3% in December last year.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 2.3% in the three months ended February 28, compared with the previous three months. Five of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.
The largest negative contributions were reported in motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment, having contracted by 11.4% and contributing -0.9 of a percentage point; and petroleum chemical products, rubber and plastic products, having contracted by 3.8% and contributing -0.8 of a percentage point.
Basic iron and steel, nonferrous metal products, metal products and machinery also contracted in the period by 3.5% and contributed -0.8 of a percentage point to the headline figure.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales increased by 0.1% in February compared with January. This followed month-on-month changes of -1% in January and 1.2% in December 2024.
Seasonally adjusted manufacturing sales decreased by 0.5% in the three months ended February 28, compared with the previous three months.
The largest negative contributions were made by the motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment division, again contracting by -4.9% and contributing -0.7 of a percentage point and basic iron and steel, having contracted by -2.6% and contributing -0.5 of a percentage point.
The largest positive contribution to sales in the period was made by the petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products division, with sales having grown by 2.2% and contributing 0.5 of a percentage point.