Industrial output in the eurozone dropped slightly (-0.2%) in January compared with December.
But compared with a year ago, production was up by 2.1%.
Portugal bucked the trend by showing modest growth of 0.1% compared to December and a health increase of 4.6% compared to January 2012.
Economists expressed disappointment at the -0.2% average decline having predicted growth.
The results underscore the eurozone’s delicate economic recovery.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, registered a month-on-month rise of 0.4% in January.
But French industries contracted -1.4% on the year, accelerating from a decline of -0.2% in the year to December.
The UK's industrial sector also registered growth of 0.1% over December.
The fastest growing industrial sector is capital goods, as companies invest in new equipment. The energy sector is the only sector that is shrinking on a monthly and annual basis.
