A sample survey among manufacturing enterprises showed a decrease in sales, investment and employment in the sampled enterprises during the fourth quarter of 2008 when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2007.
Sales
During the fourth quarter of 2008 sales by the sampled manufacturing enterprises stood at €513.5 million, a decrease of 12.8 per cent when compared to the corresponding period in 2007. The decrease was mainly due to lower sales by the Radio, TV and Communication Equipment and the Chemicals and Chemical Products sectors. Lower sales were also registered by the Publishing and Printing, the Rubber and Plastic Products and the Furniture and Manufacturing n.e.c. sectors. Higher sales were registered by the Electrical Machinery and Apparatus and the Other Non-metallic Mineral Products sectors.
Export-oriented enterprises generated €394.6 million or 76.8 per cent of the surveyed sales for this period.
Employment, Wages and Salaries
At the end of December 2008, employment in the sampled enterprises stood at 17,094, a decrease of 590 employees over the previous year.
Lower employment levels were mainly recorded by the Radio, TV and Communication Equipment sector, with a drop of 284 employees. The Rubber and Plastic Products and the Wearing Apparel and Clothes sectors registered decreases of 156 and 109 employees respectively.
Rises in employment were mainly recorded in the Other Transport Equipment and the Other Nonmetallic Mineral Products sectors, with increases of 159 and 54 employees respectively.
An amount of €69.9 million was paid out in gross wages and salaries by the sampled enterprises during the fourth quarter last year.
Investment
During October-December 2008, overall investment in the sampled enterprises amounted to €32.0 million, a decrease of €5.7 million over the comparative period in 2007.