The value of total stocks held by industry showed an increase of €7.4m in the third quarter of 2007, following an increase of €129.9m in the second quarter of 2007.
The principal reasons for the third quarter change in value of stocks was an increase of €113.8m in Finished Goods and a decrease of €104.9m in Work-in-Progress.
The breakdown of the components of stocks shows: • A decrease of €151.7m in stocks of materials& fuels held in NACE 24, the chemical products sector, in the third quarter of 2007 following an increase of €41.1m in the previous quarter. • Stocks of work-in-progress goods held in NACE 24, the chemical products sector, which had increased by €14.0m in the second quarter of 2007, decreased by €51.1m in the third quarter of 2007.