Industry - February 2007
Strong external demand behind robust growth of industry
Publication Date: 11. 04. 2007
Product Code: r-8001-07
In February 2007, seasonally adjusted industrial production increased by 1.9%, compared to January 2006. Industrial production grew by 15.4% year-on-year. Sales from industrial activity at constant prices rose by 16.8% year on year. Industrial new orders increased by 14.1% year-on-year.
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Seasonally adjusted industrial production in February 2007 was up by 1.9% month-on-month. The trend grew by 1.1% (Table 5).

The year-on-year index of industrial production reached 115.4% in February (or 113.6% seasonally adjusted, SA). The growth of industrial production (Table 6) was most affected by ‘manufacture of electrical and optical equipment’ (+41.2%, contribution to the growth of industry in total 4.6 p.p.), ‘manufacture of transport equipment’ (+16.4%, contribution 3.6 percentage points) and ‘manufacture of machinery and equipment’ (+26.1%, contribution 1.6 p.p.). Decreases were recorded for ‘electricity, gas and water supply’ (-4.3%, contribution -0.4 p.p.), ‘mining and quarrying of energy producing materials’ (-0.9%, contribution -0.02 p.p.) and ‘manufacture of leather and leather products’ (-7.6%, contribution -0.02 p.p.).
In February, industrial production rose in all the main industrial groupings: in ‘consumer durables’ (+41.1%), ‘capital goods’ (+22.4%), ‘intermediate goods’ (+14.8%), ‘consumer non-durables’ (+9.2%) and ‘energy’ (+0.7%).
Sales from industrial activity at constant prices (of the year 2000) 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%.
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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According to Eurostat News Release, the seasonally adjusted index of industrial production in the EU27 rose by 3.5% in January 2007 compared to January 2006. Among the EU27 member states for which data were available, the highest increases were registered in Slovakia (+17.4%), Poland (+15.6%), Ireland (+9.0%) and Germany (+7.1%). The biggest decrease was recorded in the Netherlands (-3.6%).
Note
Contact: Jan Ernest, tel: (+420) 274054188, e-mail: jan.ernest@csu.gov.cz
Data source: CZSO direct survey in enterprises with 20+ employees
End of data collection: 4 April 2007
End of data processing: 6 April 2007
Related publication: 8001-07 Industry of the Czech Republic ( /produkty/prumysl-ceske-republiky-prosinec-bifzzwj49k )
*) 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.