Categories: Ireland

What EU country saw the largest increase in industrial production in August 2024?

Ireland saw the largest annual increase in industrial production of any EU member state in August 2024, reporting a 15.8% increase, new data has shown.

According to the Eurostat data, other countries to report a notable increase in industrial production in the period included Denmark (10.7%), Slovenia (7.2%), Lithuania (5.4%) and Belgium (4.7%).

EU countries to see a decrease in industrial production included Luxembourg, which saw production down 11.7%, Estonia (-6.0%), Hungary (-4.2%), Austria (-3.3%) and Italy (-3.2%).

Industrial production in the EU

On an annual basis, industrial production increased by 0.2% in the European Union and by 0.1% in the euro area.

Within the EU, industrial production decreased by 2.4% for intermediate goods; increased by 2.2% for energy; increased by 0.2% for capital goods; decreased by 3.9% for durable consumer goods; and increased by 3.1% for non-durable consumer goods.

On a month-on-month basis, meanwhile, industrial production increased by 1.8% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU in August 2024, compared to July 2024.

Ireland (+4.5%), Germany and Lithuania (both +3.3%) were among the countries to report a month-on-month increase. Read more Eurostat data here.

Analyst viewpoint

Commenting on the findings, Bert Colijn, chief economist with ING in the Netherlands, said that the production boost was “driven by Germany, which saw production increase by 3.3% in August, erasing losses from the 3.3% decline in July. France and the Netherlands also experienced fast growth at 1.4 and 2.2% month-on-month. This mid-quarter growth spurt will be helpful in supporting economic activity in the quarter, which has been under pressure judging from weakening survey data evidence on economic growth.

“Still, expectations about industry remain lacklustre for the rest of the year. The list of concerns for eurozone industry is long at the moment, and ranges from increased competition from China to volatile energy costs, labour shortages and supply chain uncertainties. This means that it’s pretty hard to see the start of a vibrant recovery for the sector at this point.” Read more here.

Annual increase/decrease in industrial production in EU member states, August 2024 (%)

Country Percentage Change (%)
Ireland 15.8
Denmark 10.7
Slovenia 7.2
Lithuania 5.4
Belgium 4.7
Greece 3.1
Cyprus 2.7
Finland 2.7
Latvia 2.1
Malta 2.1
Czechia 1.5
France 1.1
Netherlands 0.9
Slovakia 0.9
Sweden 0.0
Poland -0.5
Spain -1.3
Portugal -1.9
Croatia -2.1
Romania -2.1
Germany -2.5
Bulgaria -2.7
Italy -3.2
Austria -3.3
Hungary -4.2
Estonia -6.0
Luxembourg -11.7
Editor

Recent Posts

Popularity of camping and caravanning on the rise in the EU

Tourists spent a total of 413 million nights at camping grounds, RV parks, and trailer…

4 days ago

Greek manufacturing sector sees input cost inflation soar

Greece's manufacturing industry continued to expand in March, with production and new orders showing growth,…

4 days ago

European Commission takes preparatory steps on implementation of €90bn Ukraine support loan

The European Commission has taken 'preparatory steps' toward the implementation of the €90 billion Ukraine…

5 days ago

Dutch rank highest for digital skills in the European Union

Some 84% of individuals in the Netherlands have at least basic digital skills, the highest…

5 days ago

Tourism nights booked via online platforms total close to one billion

Some 951.6 million short-stay accommodation nights were booked via platforms such as Airbnb, Booking or…

5 days ago

Sweden reports increased population density in urban areas

The population living in Sweden's urban areas and localities has 'increased steadily' over the past…

5 days ago