Oviedo (EFE).- The production of the Asturian industry fell by 2 percent in February in the interannual rate, with which in the accumulated first quarter it has fallen by 3.4 percent in relation to the same period last year due to much of it to the breakdown in one of ArcelorMittal’s furnaces, according to the index prepared by the Asturian Society for Economic and Industrial Studies (Sadei).
In his report, Sadei points out that the regional industry reduced its production level in March, in contrast to the rise of 0.2 percent in February that put an end to five consecutive months of declines, “highly conditioned by some unforeseen events that delay, from again, a hypothetical recovery”.
The sector was weighed down by factors such as the “sharp decline” in the generation of electrical energy, especially thermal, some commercial decisions in certain chemical activities, or the cessation of activity of the Danone plant in Salas.
However, according to Sadei, the most significant event was the breakdown due to fire that occurred in Arcelormittal’s Horno Alto A in Gijón, “not so much because of the impact it had on the data for this month, but because of the projection that this This fact may have on short-term results, given the limiting effect it entails in order to meet production commitments already acquired”.
Faced with this, Sadei highlights the evolution of the metal industries, “driven by the good behavior of the naval sector and of some companies oriented towards engineering projects”.
Likewise, it appreciates “promising expectations regarding the different projects related to renewable energies, whether wind or solar, which even allow the reactivation of facilities closed in the past years.”
By branches of activity, production rose in March in Other non-metallic mineral products, 17.8%; Manufacture of metal products, 14.4%; Metal transformation industry, 10.5%; Other manufacturing industries, 10.2%, and Metallurgy, 7.5%.
On the other hand, it fell 22.6% in Electricity, gas and water; 22.1% in the chemical industry; 10.2% in Extractive industries, and 5.9% in Food, beverages and tobacco. EFE