Manufacturing production rises

Annual production in the manufacturing sector rose 10.4 per cent in August, new data from the Central Statistics Office showed today.

The change was led by rise of 18.5 per cent in the production of basic pharmaceutical products and preparations sector, and partly offset by a 10.9 per cent decline in computer, electronic and optical products.

Turnover for the period was 17.9 per cent higher when compared with August 2009.

Over the three-month period between June and August, production was up 3.9 per cent compared with the preceding quarter.

The modern sector, which includes a number of high-technology and chemical sectors, rose by 14.6 per cent in August compared to a year earlier, while the traditional sector rose by only 2.2 per cent.

The seasonally adjusted industrial turnover index for manufacturing industries showed a 5.5 per cent rise in the three month period.