Ireland recorded the biggest rise in industrial production across the European Union in the year to the end of January, new figures from the EU's official statistics agency Eurostat show.

Output in Ireland was up 42 per cent versus an annual increase of 2.8 per cent for the euro zone and a 2.5 per cent rise for the European Union as a whole. The next nearest competitors were Lithuania and Croatia, up 10.5 per cent and 9.3 per cent respectively.

The largest annual decreases in production were recorded in Malta, down 8.9 per cent and the Netherlands, down 3.9 per cent.

Ireland also recorded the largest monthly rise in industrial output in the EU, up 12.7 per cent from December to January, versus 2.1 per cent for the euro zone and 1.7 per cent for the European Union as a whole. The next nearest competitors to Ireland in terms of production were Estonia and Croatia, up 4.9 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively.

The largest decreases recorded on a monthly basis were in Malta, Romania and Finland.

Eurostat attributed the rise in euro zone industrial output to non-durable consumer goods and capital goods, which rose .7.3 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively over the year.