Q1 capital acquisitions down significantly
Capital acquisitions in industry in the first quarter of 2005 were €672.8m, compared with €1249.7m in the first quarter of 2004, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The major contributor to the total figure was the acquisition of machinery and equipment, which amounted to €487.5m in the first quarter of 2005, following a first quarter 2004 level of €914.8m.
Land and buildings acquisitions were €102.2m, down from €244.4m in the first quarter of 2004. Total capital sales were €53.3m, compared with €60.9m in the first quarter of 2004.
The breakdown of the components of acquisitions into the different industrial sectors shows that the highest level of acquisitions of machinery and equipment was recorded in the electricity and gas supply sector with a level of €149.4m in the first quarter of 2005, compared with €174.9m for the same quarter the previous year.
The highest level of acquisitions of land and buildings was in the chemical products sector, which accounted for €48.8m in the first quarter of 2005. This has decreased from the first quarter 2004 level of €90.2m.
