Moldova's industrial output stood at $151.8m in January 2009, 25.1 percent less than in January 2008, the National Bureau of Statistics reported.
The bureau traced the contraction to lower output at the primary industry enterprises (down an overwhelming 62.1 percent), food manufacturers (down 20 percent), and in the energy sector (down 16.4 percent). Specifically, the production of distilled alcoholic beverages shrank 3.4 times, that of wine dropped 30.8 percent, that of tobacco products 4.9 times, and clothes 16.9 percent. Power generating companies produced 16.8 percent less electricity. Experts link the overall deterioration to fewer orders from abroad, as well as temporary halts in gas supplies, and a shortage of raw materials and financial resources, along with other reasons. However, some industries witnessed a certain rise in production, the bureau pointed out. RBC
