Meat and dairy products dominated the rise in total manufacturing sales for the September 2012 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand.

After adjusting for seasonal effects, the value of total manufacturing sales rose 1.6 percent ($370 million), led by the 9.3 percent increase in meat and dairy product manufacturing.

When price changes are removed, the volume of manufacturing sales rose 2.6 percent, also led by meat and dairy product manufacturing, up 13 percent.

“The volume increase in meat and dairy manufacturing is reflected in the rise of export volumes for dairy and meat products, with increases of 32 percent in dairy and 15 percent in meat,” industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno says.

“Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for manufacturing volumes has risen in the past year.”

Without the meat and dairy industry contribution, the volume of manufacturing sales fell 1.4 percent in the September quarter.