The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index rose by 2.7% in March 2007 compared with February 2007. The index fell by 0.6% in February and remained stable in January. EU27 new orders grew by 2.8% in March 2007, after an increase of 0.1% in February and a decrease of 1.4% in January. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment4 industrial new orders grew by 2.7% in the euro area and by 2.5% in the EU27 in March 2007.



In March 2007 compared with March 2006, industrial new orders increased by 8.0% in the euro area and by 8.1% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment grew by 9.1% in the euro area and by 9.6% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In March 2007 compared with Febuary 2007, new orders for textiles and textile products increased by 8.7% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment gained 8.3% and 5.0% respectively. Machinery and equipment grew by 6.3% in the euro area and by 4.3% in the EU27. Transport equipment rose by 2.8% and 3.6% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27. Manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products rose by 0.6% and 0.8% respectively.

In March 2007, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in fifteen Member States and fell in five. The highest increases were recorded in Poland (+9.1%), Spain and Portugal (both +5.1%) and Italy (+4.7%). The largest decreases were registered in Hungary (-13.3%) and Denmark (-12.6%).

Annual changes

In March 2007 compared with March 2006, new orders for machinery and equipment grew by 16.4% in the euro area and by 13.9% in the EU27. Manufacturing of textiles and textile products increased by 13.6% and 11.8% respectively. Basic metals and fabricated metal products gained 8.9% in the euro area and 10.6% in the EU27. Manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products rose by 6.7% and 6.6% respectively. Electrical and electronic equipment grew by 6.4% in the euro area and by 6.8% in the EU27. Transport equipment increased by 5.8% and 7.5% respectively.

In March 2007, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in eighteen Member States, and fell only in Latvia (-30.8%) and Hungary (-1.5%). The highest increases were registered in Poland (+65.2%), Romania (+35.8%), Slovakia (+25.7%) and Lithuania (+24.0%).