The monthly data showed a contraction, falling for the second straight month, a fall of 0.7% after a 3.6% decline in October.
Hungary’s industry remained resilient until September with strong export growth, but output slowed markedly in Q4, adding to concerns about a more significant slowdown in the economy.
The slump in the last two months of the year could be related to companies adjusting to rising energy costs and weaker external demands, analysts observed. The short-term outlook is therefore not very favourable, but in the medium term, significant capacity expansions coming on stream, notably in the automotive, chemicals and EV battery sectors, could lead to a meaningful rebound in manufacturing output, Erste Bank analyst Orsolya Nyeste said.
The outlook for Hungary’s export-oriented industry will depend mainly on the recovery of the global economy and the European response to the energy crisis, she added
The EUR/HUF slipped 0.6% to 396 on concern that the slowdown could increase the risk of a deeper recession in Q4. The preliminary GDP data for the last quarter and 2022 will be released on February 14.