Industrial production down by 2.1% in euro area

In December 2019 compared with November 2019, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 2.1% in the euro area (EA19) and by 2.0% in the EU27, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In November 2019, industrial production remained stable in the euro area and in the EU27. In December 2019 compared with December 2018, industrial production decreased by 4.1% in the euro area and by 3.9% in the EU27.

The average industrial production for the year 2019, compared with 2018, fell by 1.7% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27.

Monthly comparison

In the euro area in December 2019, compared with November 2019, production of capital goods fell by 4.0%, intermediate goods by 1.7%, non-durable consumer goods by 1.3%, durable consumer goods by 1.1% and energy by 0.5%.

In the EU27, production of capital goods fell by 3.5%, intermediate goods by 1.6%, durable consumer goods by 1.4%, non-durable consumer goods by 1.2% and energy by 0.7%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in industrial production were registered in Ireland (-6.2%), Hungary (-3.8%) and Poland (-3.0%). The highest increases were observed in Denmark (+7.2%), Portugal (+2.9%) and Greece (+2.5%).

Annual comparison

In the euro area in December 2019, compared with December 2018, production of capital goods fell by 6.7%, intermediate goods by 5.5%, energy by 2.3% and durable consumer goods by 1.4%, while production of nondurable consumer goods rose by 1.3%.In the EU27, production of capital goods fell by 6.0%, intermediate goods by 4.9%, energy by 3.0% and durable consumer goods by 0.9%, while production of non-durable consumer goods rose by 0.9%.

Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in industrial production were registered in Estonia (-9.9%), Romania (-8.9%) and Germany (-7.2%). The highest increases were observed in Malta (+7.6%), Portugal (+3.9%) and Poland (+1.3%).