Capital acquisitions in industry in the first quarter of 2004 were €1183.8m, compared with €796.6 million in the first quarter of 2003.
Figure released by the Central Statistics Office show purchases of machinery and equipment amounted to €879.1 million in the first quarter of 2004 compared to €559.3 million in the same period last year.
Land and buildings acquisitions were €217.9 million, up from €122.7 million in the first quarter of 2003. Total capital sales were €63.7 million, compared with €97.1 million in the first quarter of 2003.
The highest level of acquisitions of machinery and equipment was recorded in the communication equipment sector with a level of €422.1m in the first quarter of 2004, compared with €47.8 million for the same quarter in the previous year.
The highest level of acquisitions of land and buildings was in the chemical products sector, which accounted for €82.0 million in the first quarter of 2004. This has increased from the first quarter 2003 level of €58.5 million.