Total manufacturing sales rose in the September 2016 quarter, led by a rise in petroleum and coal product manufacturing, Statistics New Zealand said today.

After adjusting for seasonal effects and removing price changes, the volume of total manufacturing sales rose 2.1 percent in the September 2016 quarter, following a similar rise in the June 2016 quarter.

"This quarter's rise in petroleum and coal manufacturing sales followed a sizeable fall in the June 2016 quarter," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. "This industry often has quite large quarterly movements and is not adjusted for seasonal effects."

Ten of the 13 manufacturing industries had sales increases in the September 2016 quarter. The largest increases were in:

petroleum and coal product manufacturing – up 8.1 percentmeat and dairy product manufacturing – up 1.6 percent, following a large rise in the June quarterchemical, polymer, and rubber product manufacturing – up 5.5 percent.

The trend for total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, is rising.

The actual volume of total manufacturing sales was up 4.8 percent on the September 2015 quarter. When price changes are included, the value of manufacturing sales was $23.3 billion in the September 2016 quarter, down $332 million (1.4 percent) from the September 2015 quarter.

Data and analysis

Economic Survey of Manufacturing: September 2016 quarter – for more data and analysis