BRUSSELS, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The euro zone's industrial new orders fell by 3.5 percent in May 2008 compared with the previous month, estimated Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union (EU), on Wednesday.

    In April, eurozone industrial new orders rose by 2.0 percent against the previous month.

    In the 27-member EU, new orders dropped by 4.7 percent in May 2008 after growing by 3.6 percent in April. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment, industrial new orders declined by 2.5 percent in the eurozone and by 2.4 percent EU-wide.

    In May 2008 compared with May 2007, industrial new orders fell by 4.4 percent in the euro zone and by 2.8 percent in the whole EU. Total industry excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment dropped by 4.0 percent in the eurozone and by 2.3 percent EU-wide.

    In May 2008 compared with April 2008, new orders for chemicals and chemical products fell by 0.5 percent in both the eurozone and the whole EU. Manufacturing of basic metals and fabricated metal products decreased by 2.4 percent and 1.9 percent respectively.

    Electrical and electronic equipment dropped by 3.0 percent in the eurozone and by 4.5 percent EU-wide. Manufacturing of machinery and equipment declined by 4.1 percent and 7.7 percent respectively.

    Textiles and textile products fell by 4.2 percent in the eurozone and by 1.7 percent in the whole EU. Transport equipment decreased by 7.0 percent and 8.5 percent respectively.

    In May 2008 compared with May 2007, new orders for basic metals and fabricated metal products increased by 0.9 percent in the eurozone and by 1.6 percent in the whole EU. Chemicals and chemical products fell by 0.9 percent in the eurozone, but grew by 2.3 percent EU-wide. Manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment dropped by 2.8 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.

    Machinery and equipment decreased by 6.3 percent in the eurozone and by 3.9 percent in the whole EU. Manufacturing of textiles and textile products declined by 8.6 percent and 6.4 percent respectively. Transport equipment fell by 10.1 percent in the eurozone and by 7.2 percent EU-wide.