The rise of 0.7% in total production output for the three months to August 2018, compared with the three months to May 2018, is due primarily to a rise of 0.8% in manufacturing, which displays widespread strength throughout the sector with 10 of the 13 sub-sectors increasing.

The three-monthly increase in manufacturing output is due primarily to strength from pharmaceutical products (3.3%), food, beverages and tobacco (1.5%), and rubber and plastic products (2.1%).

In August 2018, total production output was estimated to have increased by 0.2% compared with July 2018, due primarily to rises in electricity and gas supply of 1.8% and mining and quarrying of 2.1%.