Swedish basic metal orders up 68 percent in March

In Sweden, industrial production decreased by 3.8 percent in March this year compared to February and declined by 4.5 percent year on year in working day-adjusted figures, according to Statistics Sweden (SCB).
 
On the other hand, the production index for the Swedish basic metal industry decreased by 1.6 percent in March this year compared to the previous month, while increasing by 2.6 percent year on year. In the month in question, the country's manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, decreased by 1.1 month on month and increased by 1.9 percent compared to March 2013. Meanwhile, in the first quarter this year, basic metal production in the country increased by 3.6 and manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, rose by 4.7 percent, both on year-on-year basis.
 
On month-on-month basis, new orders for Swedish industry registered an increase of 1.1 percent in March of the current year, while new orders in the given month decreased by 11.2 percent in working day-adjusted figures compared to March 2013.
 
In March this year, new orders for basic metals in Sweden rose by 68.0 percent compared to the same month of 2013, including a 1.5 percent decline in domestic orders and a 103.4 percent rise in export orders, while new basic metals orders were up 67.4 percent compared to February. Meanwhile, new orders for the Swedish fabricated metal products industry, except machinery and equipment, decreased by 9.6 percent in March on year-on-year basis.