Slovakia’s industrial output maintained growth of 1.3% year on year in October amid the continued strong production of transportation equipment.

The pace of y/y growth in October slowed down compared to 2.5% in September when motor vehicles registered an 11.3% increase y/y. In month-on-month terms, the country’s industry increased by 0.7% in October.

“The manufacture of motor vehicles made a significant contribution to the overall positive result for the second consecutive month,” Slovak statisticians highlighted. It is the fourth month in a row when industrial output has maintained an upward trajectory.

“However, a significant decrease in manufacture of metals and machinery prevented higher y/y growth,” statisticians added in their report.

The manufacture of transport equipment had a major impact on the overall development, with growth in the sector by 19.6% y/y and registered the second-highest monthly increase since June 2023.

The dynamic growth in the country’s key industrial sector was offset by the 17.4% y/y fall in the manufacture of basic metals and the 14.7% decline in the manufacture of machinery and equipment.

The positive contribution also came from electricity and gas production, with a growth of 10.4% y/y, and a 27.2% growth in other manufacturing and repair of machinery.

From January to October, industrial production remained in decline of 0.7% y/y, with significant slumps registered in the manufacture of metals (-7%) and manufacture of machinery and equipment (-11%).