The Statistical Service announces that it has published the annual report "Industrial Statistics 2000".

The report provides detailed statistical data on the developments in the broad industrial sector covering mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity and water.

2. The major developments within each sector during 2000 compared to 1999 were:

The mining and quarrying sector in 2000 increased by 3,6% compared to the previous year. It is estimated that the value added of the sector in real terms increased from C£15.329 thousand in 1999, to C£15.878 thousand in 2000.

During 2000 the manufacturing sector showed an increase compared to 1999 due mainly to an increase in exports of manufacture goods, in local consumption and tourism. Value added of the sector increased by 2,3% in real terms compared to an increase of 0,4% in 1999.

Food, beverages and tobacco, which traditionally is the largest group and in 2000 contributed 37,4% to the manufacturing value added, registered a 4,2% increase in volume of production. This was mainly the result of increases in exports of dairy products and cigarettes as well as domestic demand boosted by tourism. Textiles, wearing apparel and leather, the second largest group, contributing 9,0% to the manufacturing value added, recorded a decline of 1,6% in volume of production, attributable mainly to a decrease in exports of clothing, footwear and travel goods as well as a decline in domestic demand. Clothing, continued to be the most important manufacturing item and its value of production is estimated at C£84,7 million in 2000 compared to C£87,7 million in 1999.

The price index of domestically produced manufactured goods rose by 5,7% over 1999, compared to a 1,9% rise in the previous year. This is attributed to an increase of 5,4% in local market prices and 7,7% in export prices.

Industrial exports, rose from C£186,7 million in 2000 to C£166,8 million in 1999 registering an increase of 11,9%. Exports to European Union countries rose to 45,5% in 2000 from 39,3% in 1987 and 26,6% in 1982, while the share absorbed by Arab countries, fell to 31,5% in 2000 from 45,1% in 1987 and 62,2% in 1982.

Expenditure on fixed assets in the sector during 2000 rose to C£65,7 million compared to C£56,1 million in 1999. Machinery and equipment accounted for 63,8% of total investment, new buildings and works for 23,3% and transport equipment for the remaining 12,9%.

Employment in manufacturing dropped from 38,3 thousand persons in 1999 to 37,9 thousand in 2000. The percentage share of unemployment in the sector to total unemployment in the economy is estimated at 20,5% with average unemployment reaching 2.246 persons in 2000 compared to 2.661 in 1999.

During 2000 there was an increase in the rate of economic growth in this sector, estimated at 8,2%, compared to 5,8% in 1999.

Generation, transmission and distribution of electric energy, is by far the most important industry of the sector and in 2000 contributed 83,4% to the sectoral value added. Sales of electricity rose by 8,1% to 3.011,2 million kWh in 2000 from 2.785,4 million kWh in 1999. The highest increases were recorded in the consumption by financial, insurance, real estate and business services and wholesale and retail trade. In the manufacturing sector, the largest increases in the usage of electricity were recorded in chemical and chemical products and non-metallic mineral products industries. Decreases were observed in the clothing, footwear wood and products of wood industries. Consumption of electricity by households rose by 10,9%, for public lighting by 7,8% and for water pumping purposes by 7,0%.