Euro zone industrial new orders dropped by 0.6 percent in October 2006 compared to the previous month, estimated Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union (EU), on Friday.

Industrial new orders fell by 1.4 percent in September 2006 and rose by 3.8 percent in August.

For the whole EU, industrial new orders gained 0.2 percent in October 2006, after a decrease of 1.0 percent in September and an increase of 2.7 percent in August.

Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, industrial new orders rose by 1 percent in the euro zone and by 0.7 percent EU-wide.

In October 2006 compared to October 2005, industrial new orders increased by 12.5 percent in both zones. Total industry excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment grew by 12.6 percent in the euro zone and by 11.2 percent in the whole EU.

In October 2006 compared to September 2006, new orders for machinery and equipment increased by 4.2 percent in the euro zone and by 3.8 percent EU-wide.

Manufacturing of basic metals and fabricated metal products rose by 4.2 percent and 3.4 percent respectively. Textiles and textile products gained 4.1 percent in the euro area and 2.7 percent in the whole EU. Manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products grew by 1.2 percent and 0.5 percent respectively. Electrical and electronic equipment gained 1 percent in the euro zone and 0.6 percent EU-wide. Only transport equipment fell, by 8. 3 percent and 3.1 percent respectively.

In October 2006 compared to October 2005, new orders for basic metals and fabricated metal products grew by 25 percent in the euro zone and by 22.6 percent in the whole EU. Manufacturing of machinery and equipment increased by 16.7 percent and 16.4 percent respectively. Electrical and electronic equipment gained 11.2 percent in the euro zone and 9.6 percent EU-wide. Manufacturing of textiles and textile products rose by 9.9 percent and 7.4 percent respectively. Chemicals and chemical products gained 9 percent in the euro zone and 6.7 percent EU-wide. Transport equipment grew by 3.7 percent and 12.4 percent respectively.

In October 2006 compared to October 2005, the highest increases in industrial new orders were registered in Slovakia (40.7 percent) , Estonia (28.1 percent), Denmark (26 percent) and Poland (23.2 percent). The lowest were recorded in Hungary (0.8 percent) and Ireland (4.3 percent).

Source: Xinhua