The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index decreased by 0.7% in February 2007 compared with January 2007. The index fell by 0.1% in January and grew by 1.5% in December 2006. EU27 new orders remained stable in February 2007, after a decrease of 1.4% in January and an increase of 2.5% in December 2006. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment industrial new orders grew by 0.5% in the euro area and by 1.8% in the EU27 in February 2007.



In February 2007 compared with February 2006, industrial new orders increased by 4.7% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment grew by 7.4% in the euro area and by 9.4% in the EU27.

Monthly changes

In February 2007 compared to January 2007, new orders for machinery and equipment increased by 1.8% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27. Manufacturing of textiles and textile products gained 0.4% and 0.5% respectively. Chemicals and chemical products remained stable in the euro area and grew by 1.0% in the EU27. Manufacturing of basic metals and fabricated metal products declined by 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. Transport equipment fell by 1.4% in the euro area, but gained 0.1% in the EU27. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment decreased by 3.6% and 1.5% respectively.

In February 2007, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in ten Member States, fell in nine and remained stable in the Czech Republic. The highest increases were recorded in Poland (+15.4%), Denmark (+9.3%) and Bulgaria (+7.9%). The largest decreases were registered in Ireland (-11.4%), Greece (-7.8%) and France (-6.3%).

Annual changes

In February 2007 compared to February 2006, new orders for machinery and equipment grew by 16.4% in the euro area and by 14.2% in the EU27. Manufacturing of basic metals and fabricated metal products increased by 11.1% and 13.0% respectively. Chemicals and chemical products rose by 8.1% in the euro area and by 7.7% in the EU27. Transport equipment decreased by 0.1% in the euro area, but increased by 2.4% in the EU27. Textiles and textile products declined by 0.3% in the euro area, but grew by 1.1% in the EU27. Electrical and electronic equipment fell by 6.2% and 0.2% respectively.

In February 2007, among the Member States for which data are available, total manufacturing working on orders rose in seventeen Member States, and fell in three. The highest increases were registered in Poland (+75.0%), Bulgaria (+57.1%) and Estonia (+31.8%). Decreases were recorded in Spain (-4.0%), Italy (-3.6%) and Greece (-0.4%).