After adjustment for seasonal effects, the value of total manufacturing sales rose 1.6% ($370 million), boosted by a 9.3% ($612 million) increase in meat and dairy product manufacturing, it said.
"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% in dairy and 15% in meat," industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno said.
"Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for manufacturing volumes has risen in the past year."
Excluding meat and dairy product manufacturing, the volume of sales fell 1.4% in the September quarter.
"Despite this, the trend for sales volume, excluding the meat and dairy industry, has remained relatively flat for the last three years," Cardno said.
