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Published: 1 November 2021

Energy use in manufacturing decreased by 6 per cent in 2020

According to Statistics Finland, energy use in manufacturing decreased by six per cent in 2020. Manufacturing consumed 496 petajoules (PJ) of energy, which was below the consumption in 2009 during the financial crisis, being the lowest consumption in the millennium. The total use of electricity in manufacturing decreased by four per cent.

Energy use in manufacturing

Manufacturing production and energy consumption decreased

The global insecurity caused by the corona pandemic was evident in manufacturing, for instance, in decreasing orders and disruptions in the production chains of manufacturing. However, manufacturing in Finland was spared the worst corona-related damages as the long delivery cycles of the investment commodity intensive export industry boosted production. Demand for raw materials also remained strong. Manufacturing was not closed widely in Finland either, and manufacturing did not face the same kind of sudden halt as many service industries. Manufacturing production continued through the corona, although at a lower level than before. Diminished output was visible especially in the fallen energy consumption of energy-intensive industries. The biggest drop was seen in the energy used by the forest industry, which was eight per cent lower than one year before. A decline was also seen in the manufacture of basic metals and in the chemical industry. Energy consumption in manufacturing accounts for around 40 per cent of Finland's total energy consumption.

Share of fossil fuels continued decreasing

Compared with 2019, the share of fossil fuels and peat fell from 26 to 25 per cent. As in the previous year, the use of natural gas grew particularly due to increased use of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The consumption of oil fell by 13 per cent and the share of oil was for the first time under ten per cent of total manufacturing consumption. The use of peat dropped by 25 per cent compared to 2019, being around one per cent of all energy used in manufacturing. The consumption of wood fuels decreased by seven per cent and its share was 40 per cent of all energy consumption. The share fell for the first time after growing continuously throughout the past decade.

Regional changes followed the location of manufacturing

Examined by region, energy consumption decreased most in Central Finland and North Ostrobothnia. The use of electricity in manufacturing fell especially in Kymenlaakso, Central Finland, Satakunta and North Ostrobothnia. The changes particularly show the lower capacity utilisation rate in the forest industry. Production in the forest industry was also hampered by large strikes before the coronavirus in both the mechanical forest industry and the manufacturing of pulp, paper and paperboard. In 2020, the forest industry accounted for 46 per cent of all energy consumed in manufacturing and for the majority of all renewable fuels in manufacturing.

Source: Energy use in manufacturing, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Anssi Vuorio 029 551 3668, Sami Heikkinen 029 551 3494, energia@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja

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Tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Energy use in manufacturing by energy source 2020 (1.11.2021)
• Appendix table 2. Energy use in manufacturing by industry 2020 (1.11.2021)
• Appendix table 3. Total electricity consumption in manufacturing 2020 (1.11.2021)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Use of energy in manufacturing (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 2. Energy use in manufacturing by energy source (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 3. Energy use in manufacturing by industry (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 4. Energy use in manufacturing by region (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 5. Total electricity consumption in manufacturing (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 6. Total electricity consumption by manufacturing branch (1.11.2021)
• Appendix figure 7. Total electricity consumption in manufacturing by region (1.11.2021)

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Updated 1.11.2021