Production in the manufacturing industry rose by 6.6 per cent in June compared with the same month a year ago, the latest data from the Central Statistics Office has shown.
The increase was driven by the basic chemicals and the reproduction of recorded media sectors, which grew by more than 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively.
Industries classed as "modern", such as high-technology and chemical sectors, increased year on year by 10.5 per cent. This compares with a 3.8 per cent decrease in "traditional” industries.
However, the seasonally adjusted figures for the three-month period from April to June showed volume was 3.3 per cent lower than in the first three months of the year.
Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted industrial turnover index fell by 4.6 per cent fort he same three-month period, and by 1.7 per cent during June compared with 2007 figures.