A sample survey among manufacturing enterprises showed a decrease in sales, investment and employment during the second quarter of 2008 when compared to the same quarter last year, the National Statistics Office reported yesterday.

Sales

During the second quarter of 2008, sales by the sampled manufacturing enterprises stood at e560.9 million, a decrease of e52.8 million or 8.6 per cent, when compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease was mainly due to the radio, TV and communication equipment sector and the wearing apparel and clothes sector. Lower sales were also registered by the furniture and manufacturing and the other transport equipment sectors.

Higher sales during the second quarter this year were registered by the chemicals and chemical products, fabricated metal products, publishing and printing, and food and beverages sectors.

Export orientated enterprises generated e436.4 million or 77.8 per cent of the total sales.

Employment, wages and salaries

In the second quarter this year, employment in the sampled enterprises declined by 881 employees to 17,549 from 18,430 in the same period last year.

Lower employment levels were mainly recorded in the wearing apparel and clothes sector followed by the radio, TV and communication equipment sector, with a decrease of 699 and 311 employees respectively.

Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the chemicals and chemical products sector and the food and beverages sector, with 184 and 115 employees respectively. In the period under review an amount of e71.2 million was paid out in gross wages and salaries by the sampled enterprises.

Investment

During the April-June quarter overall investment in the manufacturing industry amounted to e29.0 million, a decrease of e2.0 million when compared to e31.0 million for the second quarter of 2007. Investment during the first six months totalled e70.7 million, a decrease of e15.2 million when compared to the first six months of 2007.