Amsterdam - Industrial turnover in the Netherlands in May 2009 was 27 per cent lower than during the same month last year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) said in a report released on Friday.

The drop in turnover - caused by a substantial price drop - continues a trend started in January, the CBS said. Industrial turnover fell most in industries processing oil, rubber, chemicals and artificial fabrics. With a drop of 9 per cent, the food industry's turnover was most stable.

Overall industrial production in May fell 13 percent compared with the same month last year.

In a separate report also released on Friday, the CBS said the number of companies going bankrupt in the first six months of this year is almost equal to that of the entire year 2008.

A total of 3,351 companies have already gone bankrupt since January 1, compared with 3,840 companies in the whole of 2008. (dpa)