Demand for new orders at home and abroad and a rise in output helped growth in Ireland's manufacturing sector reach a nine-month high last month, according to the latest NCB Purchasing Managers' Index.
The survey, which measures Irish manufacturing activity, rose to 54.0 in June from 51.9 in May to its highest level since September 2006 and well above the 50.0 mark that separates growth from contraction.
It was the 46th consecutive month of expansion, and June's number was above the average for that period.
New orders were at a 12-month high in June at 56.4, up from 53.0 in May and compared with 57.3 recorded in June 2006. The employment component of the index remained subdued at 50.0 but recovered from 47.9 in May which was its worst since July 2003.
At 51.2, new export orders grew for the first time in three months after dropping below 50.0 in both April and May. A number of those surveyed pointed to improved demand from Asia.
Dermot O'Brien, chief economist at NCB, said the PMI suggested a resurgence in manufacturing activity seen in official data for early 2007 had "continued if not accelerated into mid-year, helped by rising domestic and export orders".