Press release 02/06/2011
Industrial activity posted widespread downturns in all Basque districts in 2009
Rioja Alavesa, Arratia- Nervión and Tolosaldea were the districts that registered more moderate downturns
The fall in the value added level of the extraction and manufacturing industry in 2009 was widespread in all Basque districts, according to Eustat data, even though the industrial activity of the Basque Country slowed down at different rates in each province.
In Álava, with an average downturn of 28.3%, the most intense slow down was in the Estribaciones del Gorbea district (-34.5%), followed closely by Cantábrica Alavesa (-32.4%). On the other hand, the most moderate downturns were in La Rioja Alavesa (-11.5%) followed by the Montaña Alavesa (-11.6%).
In the province of Bizkaia, if the average fall was 21.6%, there were two districts that posted even more negative rates: Gran Bilbao (-21.9%) and Duranguesado (-28.3%). There were four districts of Bizkaia where the downturn was around 15%: Encartaciones, Gernika-Bermeo, Markina-Ondarroa and Plentzia-Mungia. The district that registered more moderate falls in its value added was Arratia-Nervión, with a downturn of 6.4%.
In Gipuzkoa, the average fall was 22.5%, but three districts exceeded this rate: Goierri with a downturn of 26.2%, Urola Costa with -28.5% and Alto Deba which posted a fall of -24.0%. Two districts slowed down by around 22% (Bajo Deba and Donostia-San Sebastián) and the remaining two, Bajo Bidasoa (-16.9%) and Tolosa (-8.7%), posted more moderate downturns.
In terms of the number of people employed, the smallest average fall was in Álava (-8.4%), which fell by the same proportion both in Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa (-10.2%).
In Álava, the smallest relative loss of jobs occurred in Montaña Alavesa (-6.0%), although its impact is very limited in terms of the industry in the province overall. It was followed by Valles Alaveses and Cantábrica Alavesa, with decreases of 6.9% and 7.4%. The greatest percentage decrease occurred in Estribaciones del Gorbea with a negative rate of 10.9%.
In Bizkaia, the most moderate decrease was in the Encartaciones (-5.8%), even though its industrial importance is very limited as it represents 2% of the industrial employment of Bizkaia. The loss of jobs was under the average in the province in the districts of Plentzia-Mungia (-6.0%), Arratia-Nervión (-8.4%) and Gernika-Bermeo (-9.5%). Gran Bilbao was within the average decrease (-10,2%) and Markina-Ondarroa (-11.2%) and Duranguesado (-12.1%) were over the average.
Five districts of Gipuzkoa posted lower job losses than the average for the province: Goierri and Tolosaldea, both posting losses of -7.5%, and Bajo Bidasoa, Bajo Deba and Urola Costa, with -8.7%, -9.5% and -10.0%, respectively. Both Donostia-San Sebastián and Alto Deba posted higher downturns, of 11.2% and 13.4% respectively.
The industrial investment of the Basque Country also posted negative growth in nearly all districts in 2009, with exceptions that are not significant.
The average downturn of Álava was 20.0%, with noted decreases in two districts (Rioja Alavesa and Estribaciones del Gorbea) that posted falls of 50%. In Bizkaia, the average fall was 25.4% with sharp decreases over 50% in Duranguesado and Encartaciones, even though the relative importance with different in each case.
The poorest performance was posted by Gipuzkoa, with an average fall of 41.7%. Two districts, Donostia-San Sebastián and Urola Costa, with falls of over 50%, three districts with downturns of around 45% (Alto Deba, Bajo Bidasoa and Bajo Deba) and two districts, Goierri and Tolosa, down 22.5% and 17.6%, respectively.
Methodology note:
Industry is divided into sectors using the National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE-2009). Only sections B (extraction industries) and C (manufacturing industry) are the only ones included in this desegregation by districts.
For further information:
Basque Statistics Office
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tel: +34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.eus
Contact: Iosune Azula Lazkano
Tel:+34-945-01 75 09 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01
Further press releases on Industrial Statistics of the Basque Country
Industrial Statistics of he Basque Country databank