A sample survey among manufacturing enterprises showed a decrease in employment, sales and investment during the first quarter of 2009 when compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

Sales

In the first quarter sales by the sampled manufacturing enterprises stood at €421.6 million, a decrease of €122.7 million or 22.6 per cent, when compared to the corresponding period in 2008. The decrease was mainly due to the Radio, TV and Communication Equipment and the Chemicals and Chemical Products sectors. Lower sales were also registered by the Rubber and Plastic Products, the Medical, Precision and Optical Instruments, the Wearing Apparel and Clothes, and the Electrical Machinery and Apparatus sectors.

During the period under review higher sales were registered by the Other Non-metallic Mineral Products, and the Other Transport Equipment sectors.

Export orientated enterprises generated €313.5 million or 74.4 per cent of the total sales for the quarter under review.

Employment, Wages and Salaries

At the end of March employment in the sampled enterprises stood at 16,463, a decrease of 898 employees over the same period of the previous year.

Lower employment levels were mainly recorded by the Radio, TV and Communication Equipment sector with 576 less employees, followed by the Rubber and Plastic Products and the Publishing and Printing sectors, with decreases of 236 and 173 employees respectively. Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the Other Transport Equipment and the Chemicals and Chemical Products sectors with increases of 272 and 64 employees respectively.

An amount of €65.8 million was paid out in gross wages and salaries by the sampled enterprises during the quarter under review.

Investment

During the period under review, investment by the sampled manufacturing enterprises amounted to €14.5 million, a decrease of €30.8 million compared to the first three months of 2008.

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