A sample survey among manufacturing enterprises showed a decrease in sales, investment and employment in the sampled enterprises during the third quarter of 2008 when compared to the same period last year.

Sales

During the third quarter of 2008 the sales of the sampled manufacturing enterprises stood at e557.8 million, a decrease of e44.1 million or 7.3 per cent when compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease was mainly due to lower sales of the sectors relating to Radio, TV and Communication equipment, Electrical machinery and apparatus, and Chemicals and chemical products. Lower sales were also registered by the sectors relating to Rubber and plastic products, Textiles and textile products and Machinery and equipment that are not classified in other sectors.

Higher sales during the third quarter 2008 were registered in the sectors relating to Food and Beverages, Publishing and printing, Other non-metallic mineral products and Fabricated metal products.

Export-oriented enterprises generated e422.5 million or 75.7 per cent of the total sales.

Employment, wages and salaries

In the third quarter this year, employment in the sampled enterprises declined by 300 employees to 17,428 over the same period last year.

Lower employment levels were mainly recorded in the Radio, TV and Communication equipment sector and the Wearing apparel and Clothes sector, with decreases of 257 and 105 employees respectively.

Increases in employment were mainly recorded in the Publishing and printing and the Food and Beverages sectors, with 90 and 77 employees respectively. In the period under review, e69.5 million was paid out in gross wages and salaries by the sampled enterprises.

Investment

During the July-September quarter 2008, overall investment in the manufacturing industry halved when compared to the third quarter in 2007, amounting to e26.9 million against e53.0 million for the corresponding period last year.