In April 2020, the COVID-19 containment measures widely introduced by Member States continued to have a significant impact on industrial production.
The seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 17.1% in the euro area and by 17.3% in the EU, compared with March 2020, according to estimates from Eurostat. These are the largest monthly falls recorded since the start of the series, significantly higher than the 3% to 4% drops seen in late 2008 and early 2009 during the financial crisis.
In April 2020 compared with April 2019, industrial production decreased by 28.0% in the euro area and by 27.2% in the EU. These are the largest annual falls recorded since the start of the series, exceeding the -21.3% in the euro area and -20.7% in the EU observed in April 2009. Overall, industrial production in the euro area and EU has fallen to levels last seen in the mid-1990s.
In the euro area in April 2020, compared with March 2020, production of durable consumer goods fell by 28.9%, capital goods by 26.6%, intermediate goods by 15.6%, non-durable consumer goods by 11.9% and energy by 4.8%.
In the EU, production of durable consumer goods fell by 27.8%, capital goods by 27.3%, intermediate goods by 14.9%, non-durable consumer goods by 10.7% and energy by 5.0%.
Industrial production decreased in all Member States for which data are available, with the largest decreases in Hungary (-30.5%), Romania (-27.7%) and Slovakia (-26.7%).
In the euro area in April 2020, compared with April 2019, production of durable consumer goods fell by 47.7%, capital goods by 40.9%, intermediate goods by 25.5%, non-durable consumer goods by 14.0% and energy by 12.8%.
In the EU, production of durable consumer goods fell by 45.4%, capital goods by 40.8%, intermediate goods by 23.6%, non-durable consumer goods by 12.5% and energy by 12.4%.
Among Member States for which data are available, the largest decreases in industrial production were registered in Luxembourg (-43.9%), Italy (-42.5%) and Slovakia (-42.0%). The only increase was observed in Ireland (+5.5%).