Migration in Production Benefits East European Electronics Industry

Oxford, UK, September 2005

Electronics output in Eastern Europe, boosted by strong inward investment, increased by 11.6% in real terms in 2003 to reach US$26.1 billion according to the latest figures published by Reed Electronics Research. The report, part of the Yearbook of World Electronics Data series, expects output in the region to remain buoyant as companies continue to relocate production to the region. Based on constant prices and exchange rates the East European countries grew by 12.7% in 2003 to account for 87% of the total output whilst the FSU countries grew by 4.3%. Production in East Europe increased by a further 8.7% in 2004 and 8.4% in 2005 and in the FSU countries by 5.4% in 2004 and 7.6% in 2005.

In contrast growth in electronics output in Western Europe increased by only 1.0% in real terms in 2004, this after declining by 4.2% a year earlier. Despite the marked difference in performance over the last three years the East European countries covered in the survey still only accounts for around 12% of the European total.

In terms of importance the major countries in the region are Hungary , the Czech Republic and Poland the three countries accounting for 74% of electronics output in the region and 55% of the market in 2003.

Volume 4 of the Yearbook of World Electronics Data provides production and market data on 10 East European countries and allows the user to put developments in the region into both a regional and global context. The report is part of the Yearbook of World Electronics Data series a unique reference which tracks the electronics industry in 51 countries.

Reed Electronics Research (RER) specialises in providing international business information sources designed to assist senior management, marketing and business development personnel, industry watchers and analysts in keeping abreast of changes, developments and other factors affecting their business. RER is part of the global Reed Electronics Group a part Reed Business Information a leading provider of critical information and marketing solutions to business professionals and a member of Reed Elsevier.