Luxembourg, 27/01/2004 (Agence Europe) - According to estimates published by Eurostat on 26 January, the index of industry's order book entries (value of future deliveries of goods and services) fell by 0.3% in November 2003 in the euro zone compared to the previous month. In the European Union (EU15), orders also fell by 0.1% in November 2003, after a rise of 1.0% in October and 3.0% in September. This fall in both zones is due to the fall in the order book entry index in the transport material sector: -4.1% in the euro zone and -3.9% in the EU15. The other industrial sectors tended to be on the rise. The largest rises were recorded by the metallurgy and metalwork industry (+2.3% in both areas) and by the textile and clothing industry (+2.1% in both areas). The whole of the manufacturing industry working to order progressed in all Member States except France (-1.4%). The largest rises were noted in Denmark (+5.8%), Portugal (+2.7%) and Italy (+2.4%).
The EU's Statistical Office, moreover, points out that, in annual terms (November 2003/November 2002), the orders for industry fell by 1.3% in the euro zone and by 1.1% in the EU15. The manufacture of transport material fell by 5.9% in the euro zone and by 5.7% in the EU15, and the textile and clothing industry declined by 4.9% and 4.7% respectively. The chemicals industry declined by 1.7% in the euro zone and by 1.6% in the EU15 and the manufacture of machines and equipment fell by 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. On the other hand, the metallurgy and the metalworking industry progressed by 1.5% in the euro zone and by 1.6% in then EU15, and the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment increased by 3.4% and 3.9% respectively. Rises were noted in Denmark (+10.6%), Portugal (+4.1%) and Germany (+0.2%) and falls were noted in France (-4.7%), Italy (-3.0%) and Belgium (-1.5%).