Malta registered a 2.2% decrease in industrial production, figures published by Eurostat yesterday show.

Malta’s decrease is the second worst in the EU and follows that of strife-riven Greece, whose industrial production decreased by 12.3%.

Among the member states for which data are available, industrial production rose in 17 and fell in five. The highest increases were registered in Estonia (+22.7%), Ireland (+10.1%), Germany (+7.8%) and Romania (+7.7%).

In August 2011 compared with August 2010, production of capital goods increased by 12.2% in the euro area and by 10.6% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 5.3% and 4.7% respectively. Durable consumer goods grew by 2.8% in the euro-area and by 1.1% in the EU27. Non-durable consumer goods gained 1.9% and 1.8% respectively. Production of energy fell by 3.5% in the euro area and by 3.6% in the EU27.

In August 2011 compared with July 2011, production of capital goods grew by 2.1% in the euro area and by 1.6% in the EU27. Intermediate goods rose by 1.7% and 1.4% respectively. Non-durable consumer goods increased by 1.1% in the euro-area and by 0.7% in the EU27. Production of energy remained stable in the euro area and gained 0.3% in the EU27. Durable consumer goods remained stable in both zones.

Among the member states for which data are available, industrial production rose in 12 and fell in 10. The largest increases were registered in Portugal (+8.2%), Ireland (+4.4%) and Italy (+4.3%), and the highest decreases in Denmark (-3.0%), Sweden (-2.7%) and Bulgaria (-2.1%).