The electrical, instrument and ICT engineering industry is expected to reach an output growth of some 5.1 percent in 2006. Finland is forecast to achieve double-digit growth rates in 2006 and output will grow considerably in Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and above average in Sweden, whereas output growth is below average in Slovenia, Norway, UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. Intra EU trade has been buoyant in 2006 and is expected to grow by 9.3 percent in volume for the sector as a whole.

The outlook for 2007 is still rather positive for the sector as a whole and the volume of production is expected to expand further, but at a slightly lower rate than in 2006 - by 3.3 percent. Some countries expect the growth rate to be unchanged, but the majority expect to see a slowdown or even a significant decrease in growth.

Picture Courtesy of Orgalime