New Zealand Q3 Manufacturing Activity Jumps 3.5%

(RTTNews) - Manufacturing activity in New Zealand climbed a seasonally adjusted 3.5 percent on quarter in the third quarter of 2015, Statistics New Zealand said on Tuesday - following the 0.2 percent decline in the second quarter.

Excluding meat and dairy product manufacturing, sales rose 1.9 percent, while meat and dairy product manufacturing climbed 6.3 percent.

"Meat and dairy product manufacturing was up strongly after a period of fairly subdued sales," business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said.

The other main industry movements were in: beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (up 9.9 percent) and fruit, oil, cereal, and other food manufacturing (up 4.5 percent).

"The food manufacturing sector had higher sales across the board, with beverage manufacturing being particularly strong," Kelly said.

The total value of manufacturing was up 4.2 percent to NZ$23.6 billion after gaining 1.0 percent in the three months prior.

On a yearly basis, manufacturing value gained NZ$332 million or 1.4 percent.

Excluding meat and dairy product manufacturing, sales advanced 3.0 percent. Meat and dairy product manufacturing surged 7.7 percent.

The trend for total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, is rising after a recent flat period, the bureau said.