The annual growth rate was sustained by all three industrial sectors, as following: electrical and thermal energy and gas and water (+20.1 percent), extraction industry (+6.8 percent), and processing industry (+2.6 percent). In terms of main industrial groups, growth was registered in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector (+7.4 percent), energy industry (+4.9 percent), and the durable goods segment (+3.4 percent).
In September, compared to August 2008, production of electrical and thermal energy, gas and water dropped 1.2 percent, while that in the extraction industry fell 0.6 percent, and the durable goods industry decreased 1.9 percent. In the same period, the capital goods industry rose 9.6 percent and that of the FMCG sector 8.2 percent.
However, analysts are expecting this growth trend will change shortly. Economists indicated that industrial production will slow or even drop due to the international financial crisis. Cristian Parvan, Secretary of the Association of Romanian Businesspeople (AOAR), told Business Standard that the international financial crisis will result in a drop in the number of orders. Large companies, such as the Dacia Renault car maker, the Mechel Targoviste mining and metals company, and TMK Resita steel plant have all announced or halted production for several days.
