Otago continues to lead the country in the monthly BNZ-Business New Zealand performance of manufacturing index (PMI), with three of the four regions in healthy expansion.
However, while still in expansion, manufacturing activity weakened across the country in October to the lowest level in five months.
In the September index, Otago-Southland led the four areas with 60.4 points, while for October that pushed out to 80.2 points.
Central North Island had 57 points, northern North Island 53.5 points and Canterbury-Westland a flat 50.8 points. Scores above 50 denote expansion, and below 50 contraction.
Nationally, the measure of new orders declined to 55.9 from 57.4 in September, production fell to 53.1 from 57.5, deliveries slipped to 52.5 from 55.2 and finished stocks dropped to 49.2 from 52.4. Employment advanced to 52.4 from 51.1.
Otago Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett said Otago-Southland's 80-plus points on the index captured the strength of performance across a diverse range of manufacturing operations.
''These included the production of food and beverage, textiles and clothing, pet food, brushware and packaging products,'' he said.
The October result followed hard on the heels of the positive results seen in August and September, which were both above 60 points, he said.
''The sub-indices data as usual serves to underpin the result.''
Otago Southland's sub-indices for October of production, new orders and deliveries indicators were all tracking at particularly strong levels, he said.
Participant comment focused on successful supermarket promotions, early new seasonal demand, increased market share and further movement.
Insurance payouts in Christchurch were driving selected local demand.
The seasonally adjusted national index was 53.3 for October, down 1.7 points on September and 1.8 points on August.
