Manufacturing sector sees 13.4% gain

IRELAND’s manufacturing sectors had another strong month in October, with production levels rising by 13.4% on a year-on-year basis and by 7.3% when measured against the preceding month.

The high-tech and chemical-driven “modern” sector saw a monthly increase of 9.2% while the “traditional” sector experienced a 0.9% rise.

The manufacturing sector has held up “remarkably well” in the face of the economic downturn, according to Bloxham Stockbrokers chief executive Alan McQuaid, who added that “manufacturing production should be higher on average this year than in 2010, the second annual increase in a row”.