Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - According to estimates published by Eurostat on Thursday 22 May, in the euro area, the industrial new orders index fell by 1.0% in March 2008 compared with February 2008. In February the index had grown by 0.2%. In the EU27, new orders fell by 0.7% in March 2008 after declining by 0.3% in February. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, industrial new orders decreased by 0.3% in the euro area and increased by 0.9% in the EU27. In March 2008 compared with March 2007, industrial new orders decreased by 2.5% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU27. Total industry, excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, fell by 5.0% in the euro area and by 4.2% in the EU27.
In March 2008 compared with February 2008, new orders for transport equipment increased by 0.5% in the euro area, but fell by 1.7% in the EU27. Electrical and electronic equipment rose by 0.1% in the euro area, but declined by 0.5% in the EU27. The manufacture of chemicals and chemical products decreased by 0.4% and 2.0% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products dropped by 1.3% in the euro area, but gained 1.6% in the EU27. The manufacture of machinery and equipment declined by 1.3% and 0.2% respectively. Textiles and textile products decreased by 3.6% in the euro area, but grew by 0.5% in the EU27. Total manufacturing working on orders rose in six member states and fell in twelve. The highest increases were recorded in Romania (9.9%) and Spain (5.4%), and the largest decreases in Denmark (-10.2%), France (-6.8%) and Estonia (-6.6%).
In March 2008 compared with March 2007, new orders for transport equipment increased by 3.6% in the euro area and by 5.1% in the EU27. The manufacture of chemicals and chemical products decreased by 1.5% and 0.4% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products fell by 2.7% in both zones. Machinery and equipment declined by 4.6% in the euro area and by 1.9% in the EU27. The manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment dropped by 4.7% and 5.1% respectively. Textiles and textile products fell by 14.5% in the euro area and by 13.6% in the EU27. Total manufacturing working on orders rose in nine member states and fell in nine. The highest increases were registered in Bulgaria (20.8%), Slovakia (9.3%), Lithuania (8.6%) and Spain (8.5%), and the largest decreases in Greece (-10.4%), the Netherlands (-9.1%) and Sweden (-8.8%). (O.L.)