The food and beverage sectors underpinned a boost to manufacturing sales, with volumes up 3.5% and values up 4.2% to a total $23.6billion for the quarter to September.
Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) business indicators senior manager Neil Kelly said after adjusting for seasonal effects, the volume of total manufacturing sales rose 3.5% in the quarter to September.
Meat and dairy product manufacturing sales were up 6.3%.
"Meat and dairy product manufacturing was up strongly after a period of fairly subdued sales,'' he said.
ASB senior economist Jane Turner said sales volumes, as expected, were boosted by dairy and meat.
"This increase is likely a result of increased slaughter, as low dairy prices for the second consecutive season have prompted an increase in dairy cow slaughter,'' she said in a statement.
She expected dairy production would register a fall over the next quarter.
New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association chief executive Dieter Adam said it was great to see promising results.
"It is particularly encouraging to see growth in higher value and complex sub-sectors of manufacturing, which help drive innovation and capability,'' he said.
Quarter to quarter changes included transport equipment, machinery and equipment manufacturing sales values up 3.5%, furniture and other manufacturing sales up 8.1% and chemical, polymer and rubber product manufacturing sales up 3.4%.
Westpac Senior economist Michael Gordon said the manufacturing sales volumes jump in the September quarter followed two quarters of flat to falling sales.
"Much of the strength was concentrated in the primary sector, with strong gains in meat, dairy, fruit and beverages,'' he said in a statement.
The strong gains in both manufacturing and wholesale trade, released on Monday, may yet prompt a revision of his GDP for the quarter; presently at 0.7% growth.
The data indicated some of the strength in sales was derived from a rundown of stocks.
In particular, the strong lift in dairy exports over the September quarter contrasted with the known drop in milk production, he said.
Mr Kelly said the trend for total manufacturing sales volume, which gives a longer-term picture of movements, was rising after the recent flat period.
Manufacturing
For quarter to September
Manufacturing sales: Up $1.01b (4.2%) to $23.6billion.
Meat and dairy: Up $539m (7.7%).
Beverage and tobacco: Up $116m (9.6%).
Fruit, oil, cereal, other food: Up $101m (4.9%).
Source: SNZ
