Manufacturing production fell by 10.3 per cent in November as activity in high-tech and chemical sectors contracted sharply, new figures show.

However on a seasonally-adjusted basis, the volume of industrial production in manufacturing industries rose by 1.6 per cent between September and November, when compared with the preceding three-month period.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this morning show that production in the “modern” category, which comprises high-tech and chemical sectors, slumped by almost 14 per cent in November.

The figures also show that seasonally-adjusted industrial turnover was10.2 per cent higher in November, versus October.

This new data follows last week’s NCB Purchasing Managers’ Index, which found that the manufacturing sector shrank again in December.

Alan McQuaid, chief economist with Bloxham stockbrokers, said it is vital that Ireland’s manufacturing sector remains healthy and competitive, given that domestic demand is so weak.

“We still think a strong manufacturing production/export performance will provide the platform for a sustainable Irish economic recovery over the next few years,” he said.