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MANUFACTURING SALES volume had a record rise in the December 2013 quarter, mainly due to meat and dairy, Statistics New Zealand says.
The volume of total manufacturing sales rose 5.7%, with meat and dairy product manufacturing sales up 15%, after adjusting for season effects.
"The large meat and dairy volume increase is also seen in export volume rises for dairy and meat products," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno says.
Overseas Trade Indexes (Volumes): December 2013 quarter (provisional) reported increases of 23% in dairy exports and 5.5% in meat exports.
"However, it's not all about meat and dairy, with other manufacturing industries also continuing to show increases," Mr Cardno says.
The sales volume for total manufacturing, excluding meat and dairy, was up 0.9% in the December 2013 quarter, following a 2.9% increase in the September quarter. Sales for eight of the other 12 manufacturing industries rose.
The main industry movements were:
• transport equipment, and machinery and equipment manufacturing, up 5.9%
• fruit, oil, cereal, and other food manufacturing, up 5%
The trend for the total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, is now rising – following a low point in the June 2013 quarter.
In current prices, the total manufacturing sales value rose 6.3% ($1.5 billion). Meat and dairy product manufacturing increased 18% ($1.3 billion), with dairy prices remaining at high levels.
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