Dairy products for export boost manufacturing

Boosted by dairy products manufactured for export, the volume of all manufacturing rose 1.3 percent ($290 million) for the December 2011 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today.

"The 3.2 percent increase in the volume of meat and dairy manufacturing is reflected in the 6.3 percent increase in the volume of exports of dairy products," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said. "But if the meat and dairy industry is excluded, the volume of manufacturing in the December quarter fell 0.7 percent."

Seven of the other 12 manufacturing industries also recorded falls this quarter. 

The trend for the manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, indicates manufacturing volumes have been fluctuating around the same level for nearly three years.

Geoff Bascand 8 March 2012

Government Statistician