Industry of the Czech Republic

Comment. B

Sales from industrial activity at constant prices (of the year 2000) in February 2007 rose by 16.8% (+17.0% at current prices), or by 15.4% SA, year-on-year. The increase of sales from industrial activity was most contributed to by ‘manufacture of electrical and optical equipment’ (+37.6%, contribution to the growth of industry in total 5.3 percentage points), ‘manufacture of transport equipment’ (+16.4%, contribution 3.7 p.p.) and ‘manufacture of machinery and equipment’ (+26.1%, contribution 1.9 p.p.). Sales from industrial activity decreased in ‘electricity, gas and water supply’ (-8.2%, contribution -0.6 p.p.), ‘mining and quarrying of energy producing materials’ (-2.7%, contribution -0.05 p.p.) and ‘manufacture of leather and leather products’ (-7.6%, contribution -0.01 p.p.).
Direct export sales of industrial enterprises increased by 24.2% at constant prices (+25.1% at current prices), and their proportion in total sales of industrial enterprises stood at 51.5% (at current prices).

Sales from industrial activity of foreign-controlled enterprises were up by 22.1% at constant prices (+23.0% at current prices), and their proportion in total sales stood at 61.4% (current prices). Direct export sales of industrial foreign-controlled enterprises increased by 25.1% at constant prices (+26.4% at current prices) and made up 76.5% of total sales of these enterprises (current prices).

The average number of persons employed*) in the industry went up by 2.6% in February 2007 (+29.8 thousand persons) year-on-year. Increases were registered in ‘manufacture of transport equipment’ (+7.6%), ‘manufacture of electrical and optical equipment’ (+7.2%) and ‘manufacture of rubber and plastic products’ (+6.9%). Employment decreased most in ‘manufacture of leather and leather products’ (-6.5%), ‘manufacture of textiles and textile products’ (-5.7%) and ‘mining and quarrying of energy producing materials’ (-5.4%).

The average monthly nominal wage in the industry rose by 6.8% year-on-year and reached CZK 18 709. The average hourly wage increased by 7.3% and stood at CZK 136.4. Labour productivity in the industry (sales per employee) rose by 13.0% and hourly labour productivity by 13.3%.

Graph 4

Industrial new orders in selected CZ-NACE activities concluded in February 2007 reached the value of CZK 151.6 billion (current prices), of which non-domestic industrial new orders made up CZK 102.9 billion. The y-o-y index of industrial new orders in total stood at 114.1%, the index of non-domestic industrial new orders was 118.7%. Non-domestic industrial new orders grew most in ‘manufacture of office machinery and computers‘ (+133.2%, contribution to the growth of industry in total 4.2 percentage points), ‘manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products‘(+48.3%, contribution 3.5 p.p.), ‘manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers’ (+5.5%, contribution 1.9 p.p.) and ‘manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.‘ (+12.6%, contribution 1.8 p.p.).

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Note

*) Starting from January 2007, in accordance with Eurostat methodology, monthly data on numbers of employed persons are published by the Czech Statistical Office as part of the short-term industrial statistics. Unlike the average registered number of employees published before, the new indicator includes also persons working under agreement for work performed outside the employment relationship and other employed persons who participate in work for the company without having an employment relationship with the company. The new figure represents full-time equivalent (FTE). This change has an impact on average wage and labour productivity calculations. Year-on-year comparability of the data published is ensured.