The annual Northern Ireland Manufacturing Sales and Exports Survey (MSES) provides estimates of the sales and exports generated by all businesses within the manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland (classified as Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07) divisions 10-33).
Overview
The survey has been carried out since 1991/1992. The Northern Ireland Economic Research Centre conducted the survey fieldwork each year prior to 2003 when it was passed to Economic and Labour Market Statistics Branch, DFP. It provides information on total sales, external sales and exports by SIC07 division and destination of goods.
Quality report and revisions policy
Notice to users – integration of the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) and MSES
Users should note that from Annual Business Inquiry 2011 and Manufacturing Sales and Exports 2011/2012 information will now be collected from businesses using one unified form. More information on the rationale of this integration is available using the link at the bottom of the page.
Five year review
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) is required to regularly review each of its statistical surveys, with the main objective of each review being to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of all of our procedures, and to identify where improvements can be made. Please note that a review of the Manufacturing, Sales and Exports Survey was conducted in early 2012, with an emphasis especially on the need for the information (evaluating the reason for conducting the survey), the conduct of the survey, costs, respondent's views, users' views and options for change. This review can be accessed using the link at the bottom of the page.
Usage of MSES Data
The Manufacturing Sales and Exports Survey is designed and maintained to meet the requirements of a wide variety of users. Information on the usages of the MSES is available using the link at the bottom of the page.
Changes to the Standard Industrial Classification Move from SIC 2003 to SIC2007
As highlighted in the 2008/2009 MSES bulletin, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in conjunction with various stakeholders has implemented major revisions to the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities (SIC). The UK is required by European legislation to revise the SIC in parallel with NACE so that both systems remain identical down to and including the four digit class level. These revisions are motivated by the need to adapt the classifications to changes in the world economy. The revised classifications reflect the growing importance of service activities in the economy over the last fifteen years, mainly due to the developments in information and communication technologies (ICT). More information on these revisions and correspondence between SIC 2007 and the previous SIC 2003 can be accessed on the Office of National Statistics website.
As a result, the SIC 2003 categorisation of business activities has been replaced and updated by the new SIC 2007 activity codes within the MSES 2010/2011. This has resulted in discontinuities between results presented on a SIC 2003 (2008/2009 and earlier years) and SIC 2007 (2008/2009 and subsequent years) basis. Grossing factors for the MSES are calculated using the QES, and the extent of the changes in QES estimates for Manufacturing based on SIC 2003 and SIC 2007 can be accessed using the link at the bottom of the page.
Caution should therefore be exercised when comparing results presented on a SIC 2003 and SIC 2007 basis.
The move from SIC 2003 to SIC 2007 has also resulted in the ONS discontinuing the SIC 2003 deflator price index PLLU (in favour of the 2007 JVZ7 index). Details of PPI implementation of SIC 2007 and the impact of this move can be accessed by e-mailing ppi@ons.gov.uk
This discontinuation means that constant prices for MSES results collected on a SIC 2003 basis will be deflated to base period (2008/09=100) from now on, while SIC 2007 results will be deflated to the current year (for example, 2014=100 in this report). Section 3 of the most recent bulletin quantifies the differences that occur when deflating the SIC 2003 results to base years 2008/2009=100 and 2014=100.