Industry in CEE suffered also last year

Todays release of Romanias industrial output growth in December completes the dataset of the industry performance last year. Unfortunately, industrial production contracted in 2024 in most of the CEE countries. Industry expanded only in Poland, Slovakia, and Serbia last year. In other countries, the average growth rate of industrial output remained negative in 2024. It should be noted, though, the contraction was less extensive compared to 2023 in Czechia, Hungary, Romania, and Slovenia. Croatia is an outlier with industrial production decline bigger in 2024 than in 2023. In general, the crisis of the automotive industry, which is felt especially in Germany, has not been bypassing the region. Serbia, on the other hand, is benefiting from vivid investment activity as the country set in motion its 'Leap into the future 2027' investment program.