Eurozone industrial surge: Capital goods lead 3.2% growth
According to preliminary estimates by Eurostat, industrial production in March 2025, compared to February 2025, increased by 2.6% in the eurozone and by 1.9% in the European Union. On an annual basis, there was an increase of 3.6% in the eurozone and 2.7% across the entire EU compared to March 2024.
In February 2025, industrial production increased by 1.1% in both the eurozone and the entire European Union. The data indicates a significant revival of industrial activity in the first quarter of the current year.
In the eurozone in March 2025, compared to February, the production of intermediate goods increased by 0.6%, while energy production fell by 0.5%. The largest growth was recorded in capital goods, with an increase of 3.2%. The production of durable consumer goods increased by 3.1%, and non-durable consumer goods by 2.3%.
Across the European Union, the production of intermediate goods increased by 0.2%, while energy production decreased by 1.7%. Capital goods saw an increase of 3.0%, durable consumer goods increased by 2.8%, and non-durable consumer goods by 1.3%.
The highest monthly increases in industrial production were registered in Ireland (14.6%), Malta (4.4%), and Finland (3.5%). The largest declines were observed in Luxembourg (-6.3%), Denmark and Greece (-4.6% each), and Portugal (-4.0%).
Annual comparison by category and member countries
On an annual basis, in March 2025 compared to March 2024, the production of intermediate goods in the eurozone decreased by 0.2%. Energy recorded an increase of 2.2%, capital goods rose by 1.0%, and durable consumer goods increased by 1.1%. Particularly impressive was the increase in the production of non-durable consumer goods, which amounted to as much as 15.7%.
Throughout the European Union, annual changes were similar. The production of intermediate goods decreased by 0.2%, while energy production increased by 0.8%. The production of capital goods increased by 1.0%, durable consumer goods by 1.3%, and non-durable consumer goods by 12.2%.
The highest annual increases in industrial production were noted in Ireland (50.2%), Malta (10.1%), and Lithuania (7.8%). The largest declines were recorded in Bulgaria (-8.3%), Romania (-7.8%), and Denmark (-5.7%). It is worth noting the significant variability in Irish data, which arises from the specifics of Ireland's economy.
According to Eurostat, the large variability in data from Ireland is associated with the nature of its economy. International corporations often locate their operational headquarters in Ireland, maintaining intellectual property rights and incomes in Irish subsidiaries, while production occurs in other countries. In business statistics, such subcontracted production is included in the national industrial production indicator, leading to greater variability in Irish data than in other countries.
