Press Release 30/04/2014
The turnover figure for Basque industry fell by 5.2% in 2012
Sales abroad represented 40.8% of total sales of the Basque manufacturing industry, twelve percentage points more than in 2008
The net turnover figure for the industrial sector of the Basque country reached 55,661 million euros in 2012, which was a nominal decrease of 5.2%, according to data prepared by EUSTAT.
The manufacturing industry, which excludes the Extractive Industries, Water Supply & Sanitation and Electricity, Gas & Steam sectors, had a turnover of 47,870.7 million euros in 2012, with a 6.1% drop compared to 2011.
As regards the destination of sales, it is worth noting the increase of the foreign market to the detriment of the domestic market and that of the rest of Spain, compared to the period before the crisis. Thus, out of the total sales, the Basque manufacturing industry directed 40,8% abroad, compared to 29% in 2008, with 24.5% to the European Union and 16.3% to the Rest of the World. Of the rest, 30.8% of sales were made in the Basque Country itself, over seven points less then in 2008, and 28.4% in the rest of Spain, compared to 33% four months earlier.
The number of people employed throughout Basque industry reached 203,174 employees in 2012, which was a 4.8% drop with respect to the previous year, and meant the loss of 10,231 jobs. Personnel expenditure also fell by 2.9%. Investment registered a negative variation of 9.5%.
By sector, the branches with the heaviest weight in the total turnover figure for the industrial sector in 2012 were Metallurgy & Metal Products, (25.4%), Coke Plants & Oil Refining (12.2%), Electricity, Gas & Steam (11.9%) and Transport Material (10.3%). On the other hand, the branches of Metallurgy & Metal Products, Machinery & Equipment and Plastics & Rubber were those that employed the highest number of individuals in 2012, with 33.9%, 10.2% and 9.9% of the total, respectively.
Regarding evolution by sector, three branches showed increased sales: Extraction Industries (6.3%), Electronic & Computer Products (2.3%), and Electricity, Gas & Steam (1%). On the other hand, the branches with the sharpest declines were: Textile, Garments, Leather & Footwear (-14.8%), Chemical Industry (-14.3%), and Plastics & Rubber (-11.1%).
The loss of employment was more or less general across all sectors, especially affecting Plastics & Rubber (-8.3%) and Timber, Paper & Graphic Arts (-7.2%). Only the Electronic & Computer Products (2.5%) and Pharmaceutical Products (0.7%) sectors registered positive variations.
By province, the three provinces experienced downturns in their turnover figure. The greatest drop occurred in Bizkaia, at 7%, followed by Álava with a decrease of 5.9% and Gipuzkoa, which fell by 2.1%. The evolution in employment was also negative in the three provinces: it was down by 5.2% in Bizkaia, 4.7% in Álava and by 4.3% in Gipuzkoa.
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel: 945 01 75 62
Further press releases on Industrial Statistics of the Basque Country
Industrial Statistics of he Basque Country databank