Europe: Industrial production falls 5.8% in September

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The EU's industrial output saw a 5.8% decline in September versus the same month of 2019, the bloc's statistical office reported on Thursday.

Eurostat stressed that the figure was also down 6.8% in the eurozone over the same period.

On a monthly basis, it was unchanged in the EU and dropped by 0.4% in the eurozone.

The eurozone/euro area or EA19 represents member states that use the single currency -- euro -- while the EU27 includes all member countries of the bloc.

In the EU, among the main industrial groups, the production of capital goods fell the most, down 11.9% year-on-year in September.

It was followed by energy (minus 4.8%), intermediate goods (minus 2.8%), durable consumer goods (minus 1.7%), while non-durable consumer goods rose by 0.7%.

Among member states, the highest annual drops were posted by Ireland (13.6%), Germany (8.7%), France, and the Netherlands (both 6.1%).

"The only increases were observed in Poland (3.3%) and Portugal (2.5%)," it added.

The coronavirus pandemic has claimed around 1.3 lives in 191 countries and regions since it originated in China last December.

More than 52.2 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide, with recoveries totaling almost 34 million, according to figures compiled by the US' Johns Hopkins University.

Due to the pandemic, several sectors, including factories, have been facing problems related to measures, such as lockdowns.

In Turkey, the industrial production rose by 10.4% year-on-year in August, and 3.4% on a monthly basis. It is also expected to go up by 8.7% year-on-year in September.