Manufacturing Increased 12% Since 2009

Output from Ireland's manufacturing industry has increased by 12% since last year, according to the latest statistics from the Government.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has reported this morning that "significant" changes have occurred in a number of manufacturing sectors, with an average increase of 12.1% since September 2009.

According to this morning's report, the biggest changes were in basic pharmaceutical products and preparations, which increased by 14.7%, while food products were up by 11.4%.

The monthly index measures the change in the level of sales each month of industrial products, whether manufactured in the month in question or in previous periods.

Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted figures for industrial production in manufacturing industries for the three month period, July 2010 to September 2010, was 2.3% higher than in the preceding three month period.

The CSO said the “modern sector", comprising a number of high-technology and chemical sectors, showed an annual increase in production for this September of 13.5% and an increase of 6.5% was recorded in the “traditional sector", which incorporates industries such as farming, textiles, food and wood.

Meanwhile today, Minister for Trade Batt O'Keffee said Ireland's exports increased by 13% in August compared with the same month last year.

"Ireland is the only country in the eurozone, bar Germany, to record an increase in export activity in the first half of this year."

The minister said that internationally, exports fell by more than 20% last year, while in Ireland, they fell by less than 3% and services exports actually grew by 2%.

The positive news comes in stark contrast to a dismal day for the economy yesterday, as the Government faced tough questions on their decision to extend the bank bailout until July 2011, and accusations that the State was headed for bankruptcy.

However, todays figures show a trend of gradual increase in the manufacturing industries, growing 2.4% in the three month period July 2010 to September 2010 when compared with the preceding three month, while on an annual basis turnover was 8.1% higher when compared with September 2009.

(DW/KMcA)