Industrial production across the eurozone and the wider EU continued its gradual recovery in March 2026, while Bulgaria stood out with one of the strongest monthly performances in the bloc, according to Eurostat figures.
In the euro area, industrial output increased by 0.2% compared with February, matching the previous month’s pace and slightly underperforming market expectations of a 0.3% rise. Across the EU as a whole, production rose more sharply by 0.8%, up from 0.2% in February.
The monthly expansion was driven mainly by higher output in capital goods, intermediate goods, and consumer durables. At the same time, production declined in energy and non-durable consumer goods, limiting the overall pace of growth.
On a country level, Denmark posted the strongest increase at 8.4%, followed by Bulgaria with 5.8% and Poland with 5.4%, placing Bulgaria among the top performers in the EU for the month. At the other end of the scale, Belgium recorded a 3% decline, while Estonia and Sweden also saw decreases.
On a yearly basis, the euro area registered a 2.1% contraction in industrial production in March compared with March 2025, while the EU as a whole declined by 1%.
