The volume of manufacturing sales rose a seasonally adjusted 3.3 percent in the December quarter from the previous three months, for the first gain in four quarters, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.
The volume of manufacturing sales rose a seasonally adjusted 3.3 percent in the December quarter from the previous three months, for the first gain in four quarters, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) says.
Meat and dairy product volumes were up 7.9 percent, while with that category excluded sales were up 0.5 percent.
Manufacturing values were up 3.1 percent, with meat and dairy up 7.3 percent, while the rest gained 0.8 percent.
The rise in the volume of manufacturing sales in the three months to December followed three quarters of consecutive decreases, SNZ said.
Metal product manufacturing volumes gained a seasonally adjusted 7 percent in the December quarter, with the chemical, polymer, and rubber product sector up 10.1 percent, metal products up 7 percent, the transport equipment, machinery and equipment manufacturing sector rose 2.7 percent, and beverage and tobacco volumes lifted 4.2 percent.
Wood and paper product manufacturing volumes fell 4.2 percent, while textile, leather, clothing, and footwear manufacturing was down 5.7 percent.
Sectors, other than meat and dairy, that contributed to the seasonally adjusted rise in manufacturing sales values in the December quarter, included a 5.5 percent rise in metal product values and a 7.2 percent gain in chemical, polymer, and rubber products.
Beverage and tobacco product values gained 4.9 percent and wood and paper products were down 5.2 percent.
The volume of finished goods stocks, which was not seasonally adjusted, was 8.8 percent lower in the December quarter than a year earlier, with the biggest fall being a 36.9 percent drop in the petroleum and coal industry, SNZ said.
